Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

As I said a couple of pages back, booster take up looks like it has begun to plateau (infection rates have played a part too).

Covid passes are due to expire over the next couple of months, so they'll be driving with agenda of with your booster comes your freedom.

In the summer the over 60s will be due booster 2. So they use that as a wait until the vulnerable get their booster, then we'll be good. But of course we'll have to protect the school return too. Can't go wild and have cases rise before the school return. But of course, a load of people got Booster 1 in December. They need to have booster 2 by September. School kids will need their boosters before they go back to school again.

Everything put back until October........

What's that? Cases are going up again? Didn't see that coming.

TBH that Leo answer is a waffly non-answer. We really should see changes in February and the St Paddy's Day Festival is back on, all pointing to a better year anyway. If cases and hospital cases fall quickly during February and with antivirals coming soon there's little to no justification to retain anything beyond March so he'll probably get to be right about that promise.

I feel there has being a massive change in the public since the Covid reports last week, people have had enough of the lies and bullshit restrictions placed on their lives through the mismanagement of the HSE. We know for the last few years at winter the hospitals are under pressure but we never slowed down society, yes we may have had higher body count in through Covid but HSE/NPHET have had data stating who came IN with Covid and who came in with other injuries and were asymptomatic so got added to numbers and then pushed the fear factor out.

Certain people will still back Gov/NPHET and some will have the fear of going out to crowds etc due to the relentless push of Covid on the TV/Radio, Newspaper but majority dont care, just need to look at the crowds on Grafton St after 8pm last night.

That may happen and I certainly hope not. But since you linked that varadkar tweet and are basing your conclusion on that ,

He says over next 2 months. That's not the summer.

And nearly everything is already open unlike this time last year. Just a few restrictions that could easily be phased over the space of a month or two.

Having said that I'd agree with most on here that close to all if not all restrictions gone in February.

Yeh they all have those on occasions. I reckon any political pronouncements in advance of the NPHET meeting next week are best ignored. At best they are well-meaning and at worst completely made up.

No talk on mask in primary going again…….what was the initial date given again? End of February I think ?

Yep and how its to do with covid is beyond me ?

Maybe it was more a case of wishful thinking about masks but i see that more as an inconvenience. I am more hopeful about Cert checking when businesses are up and running with the Omicron good news spreading in people's heads. Those possible new rules about table service etc wont be followed after a while. Again, when that fear and anxiety lessens in the general public resulting in less compliance the authorities will need a pretty big stick to uphold the rules. Police will be reluctant and if they wield it then the resentment will grow even more. I feel the game is up. All this talk about the great things in summer will happen much earlier. I see the end of february as more likely especially when less restrictions do not halt hospitalisations from going down.

Had my first refusal of service today, in a fast food place. Popped in for a coffee and sambo and presented my cert on my phone. The young girl then asked for photo ID which I unusually didn't have as I'd left my wallet at home because I'd been walking across fields and didnt want to lose it. Also the first time I've ever been asked for ID.

Didn't want to sit outside as it was raining. But at least the world is safer as a result of me not getting lunch.

Without a doubt. Everything has to go. Everything. Period.

If this statistic alone does not get some in-depth media coverage then the plot has really thickened !

Somebody needs to tweet Leo V with these stats,and ask when he's going to ask our crew to deliver the same ?

Interesting stuff for sure.

Sage modelling projections from December 17th