Covid 19 Part XXXV-956,720 ROI (5,952 deaths) 452,946 NI (3,002 deaths) (08/01) Read OP

Same here, absolutely lost for the last two years, mine is serious hearing loss due to meningitis when younger, hey but I'm alive!

I just got on with it as best I could, but even pre Covid trying to follow convos in a noisy spot was very difficult. Just my problem.

Anyway after years of trying different hearing aids which did damn all for me, I finally last year got these super duper aids called Phonak. My god my life has been transformed. The next generation of hearing aids. Phone is connected to them via bluetooth, and an app can be configured to suit your surroundings, i.e. blocking out background noise etc. It is not perfect, but as the audiologist said - it is an aid not a miracle! But what a difference. The only trouble I have now is in echoey settings, and of course the masks behind screens, but once explained, all is good.

They started that around this time last week. No harm either

You can mute people on Twitter FYI

Claire Byrne and Pat Kenny tomorrow:

Ahh same here on one side . I have just had to keep saying , I can't hear you with the mask , but it has made things very difficult at work . I have one of those hearing aids connected to my phone and laptop but it flips out every time I take off my mask and has gotten lost ( and found again thankfully ) many times in the last 2 years .

Got a nasty ear infection while I was on steroids a few years back and it was too late when it was treated and picked up .

Very happy to see the back of them generally , but think they will be with us in hospitals foreva , unfortunately 🙄

Great to see/ hear so many people moving on and are obviously getting on with their lives now .

We were all out for drinks as a family last night ( first time with the youngest ! ) with our lads and they went on to town and meeting their friends afterwards while we walked home with neighbours .

It was bliss 😊

No it hasn't

Yes.

I see people walking around with masks all weekend going to and from the shops . I know one person who has just come out of isolation and is just trying to not pass anything on. He knows he doesn't strictly have to .

Others may be vulnerable, or just anxious .

It is nobody's business at this stage . If people want to they are entitled as it is not affecting others .

The fixation around whether other people wear a mask or not defies logic. It'll take time before everybody, or the majority of people, dispenses with them. What's the big deal? It's their choice and doing no harm. All those who shouted about rights for the past couple of years need to accept that people have a right to wear a mask, without questioning or ridicule, if they wish.

One observation I had earlier when we went out for dinner is that older people who came into the pub/restaurant mostly wore masks but younger people didn’t. None of the staff were sure whether the customers had to wear masks or not.

I completely agree that if some people want to wear masks in situations where it isn’t mandatory then it’s up to them.

Over the past few two years we had people who didn't believe in restrictions, covid, the numbers, etc However I don't find people care if somebody else wears a mask they just don't want to wear one themselves or be judged for not wearing one.

Maybe as said earlier these are people who are not sure if they are still infectious or not or people who are vulnerable?

Numbers infected are still high , and while it is not a serious jnfection for many , there are people who need to go to the shops , pharmacy etc who are vulnerable and don't want to be taking any risks .

That is now their call to make and others will have to get used to the sight of some wearing masks outside of areas where it is deemed necessary .

Personally will only be wearing them where I have to as am sick and sore from them , but would not discourage anyone else from protecting themselves or others as they see fit .

I am not saying you are saying anything about those wearing masks still btw .

Yes it would seem you can catch Omicron more than once, my own nephew has got it twice, he was just over the first dose of it and got it again in a more severe form five weeks later, not nice I can tell you.

Pretty much everyone dropped masks here immediately on Saturday. If I see someone wearing them now I'll assume they're recently/currently infected or close contacts following that guidance.