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

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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    Who says everyone wore a cheap "cloth mask" or used them incorrectly. That's just bs. Plenty of people wore medical type masks or multiple layer masks that used filters and used them properly.

    Just because some people may ignore common sense - it doesn't follow we have to accommodate them by getting rid of public safety protocols.

    I didnt bring up the bit about things which were legally required. And yes the other example of that is a seat belt. There's even the odd gobdaw who don't believe in using them either. Not that's something surprising, going by the type of ridiculous arguments being pounded by the outraged here against the use of masks .



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    To be fair Kaiser - it was yourself that suggested in the midst of a pandemic that "People ...should absolutely be responsible for their own safety and activities based on what their medical advice and history dictates" and everyone else should be free to do their own thing and implied that they were being selfish to those wanting to who want to do their own thing or wtte if they didn't

    Yes a good well fitted face mask combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, has been shown to help reduce the risk of infection by the corona virus even from Omicron.

    That some eejits may not use facemasks correctly is not an argument for disregarding public health regulations.

    And without exception the only ones I see biatching about masks generally are the same anti masker / anti vaxers and generally anti everything related to any management of the pandemic. No change there then.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    What exactly has had "virtually zero effect on case numbers"?



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    they obliterated the economy, they indirectly caused the death of god only knows how many patients that didn't get checked and diagnosed in time, they brought many people to take their own life

    I am sure there is actual evidence for these assertions and its not the usual baseless nonsense that infects this place?



  • Registered Users Posts: 784 ✭✭✭daydorunrun


    The only way the seat belt analogy would work would be if a large proportion of seat belts in use were made from elastic! They look the part until you need them to work.

    “You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.” Homer.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    "None of them knew the vax pass would be vanquished 22/02/22"

    "Vanquished"? where was the battle to defeat this arch enemy? I think I must have missed it

    And no the covid passport hasn't fully gone away. Its still needed in certain circumstances at least for a while yet and definitely is still required for international travel.

    So for anyone wishing to avoid reality there are plenty of opportunities still.



  • Registered Users Posts: 28,861 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    The "pandemic" or "crisis" is over - it's now an endemic case of the sniffles with Omicron and little to no risk to almost everyone (again yes there will be some who are vulnerable and they should continue to be careful as I said previously)

    Washing your hands and good hygiene in general is something we should do regardless. If Covid has reinforced that then it's been a positive in that way at least. Masks however (as in the cheap cloth majority being used, not medical/surgical grade) are of little benefit as we've seen by dramatically rising cases regardless. The only thing they act as is a visible reminder of Covid and placebo for some, inconvenience for most.

    As for your last part. I'm triple vaccinated and wear masks if I have to. It might be nice to simple pigeon-hole people whose opinions disagree with yours with convenient (and meaningless) "labels", but this isn't Twitter!

    But again, mask up if you feel better/safer or see it as "protecting others". No-one has an issue with that! It would be great though if the same freedom of choice and opinion applied in reverse though!



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo



    And exactly how have you aligned those totals to your opinion that "(mask wearing) has virtually zero effect on case numbers"?

    Again does it really need repeated that the use of masks Face combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help reduce the risk of infection?

    Why not blame the vaccinations? Or people not handwashing or people not distancing? Or maybe we should point out that people are perhaps mixing and socialising more than was the case with other strains at this time of the year or indeed this strain is much more infectious?

    Otherwise please quote and reference the study which shows that masks in combination with other measures have "virtually zero effect on case numbers"



  • Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭MilkyToast


    Last time you went on your "collateral damage is a conspiracy theory" tangent, I provided you with a big post of multiple different ways that the restrictions have caused or are projected to cause huge damage, including the 2020 starvation deaths of over a quarter of a million children in the global South, and you hand-waved it all away.

    Anyone who responds to you seriously on this subject is foolish.

    “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." ~C.S. Lewis



  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭brickster69


    Denmark scrapping all restrictions. Masks & Covid pass the whole lot !


    “The earth is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal.”

    - Camille Paglia



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  • Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭MilkyToast


    What we know about masks is that some studies find no effect at all from cloth/surgical masks, some studies find a small effect in reducing transmission, and the best mask to wear is an FFP2/N95 without a valve.

    What we know about SARS2 is that it's not going to be eradicated, since immunity is not neutralising (and is never likely to be) and there are multiple animal reservoirs.

    We therefore know that we are not stopping or reducing transmission so much as delaying it.

    And the question then becomes whether wearing FFP2/N95-type masks into all congregative areas, having just watched healthcare workers who wear them post their "battle scars" from doing so on Social Media for two years and understanding how much of human social interaction is conducted non-verbally through facial expression, is an acceptable legal requirement on all citizens for the sake of delaying infection in some people for some period of time.

    I think you would have to be outlandishly, irrationally fearful of Covid-19 to think that it was.

    I also think you'd have to be a bit of a douche to get on someone's case because they are outlandishly, irrationally fearful of Covid-19, because I don't think ridiculing or getting angry at people experiencing fear or anxiety is reasonable or productive (this is also a reason why getting angry at vaccine hesitant people is counterproductive, self-indulgent nonsense). But mileage will vary on that, too.

    “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." ~C.S. Lewis



  • Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    It seems the analysis has been sanctioned,however,given the background of those analyzing I would not be holding my breath behind my two N95's....https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2022/0125/1275755-coronavirus-ireland/

    An Expert Group has been set up to initially identify lessons from the public health components of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland.

    It is also tasked with looking at how to strengthen health protection generally and future public health pandemic preparedness.

    The group has been asked to identify lessons from international best practice.

    First recommendation....? How about "Put NPHET on a permanent footing" ....sure as night follows day....😉

    With the Chairman coming from Imperial College London,the home of scary interpretations and modelling heaven,it can be seen that the "Strengthen Health Protection Generally" bit will allow plenty of room for a slam-dunk on top of yet more "freedoms".

    If Mr Donnelly was minded to set up a meaningfully "Independent" review group,he might have started looking well outside our usual box of suspects for these things.


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,651 ✭✭✭walus


    A lot of people think that it was harder and harder for the unvaxed not to fold. I actually think that the opposite is true. The more and more the measures turned coercive rather than science based the easier it was for them to justify their choice of not participating in this big experiment that the mRNA vaccines have been. As I said the fundamentals of covid affecting a tiny portion of population were very solid from the beginning and seeing measures implemented that were unproportional to the risk and not driven by science has made it very easy for them to stick with their original beliefs. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If there is no evidence that it is right, most likely isn’t. There is hardly ever the comfort of certainty as risk plays it part in situations like this. It is all about managing the risk and we will see in years to come what the true long term impact of vaccines there has been.

    ”Where’s the revolution? Come on, people you’re letting me down!”



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    I have not seen any formal declaration that the pandemic is "over". Maybe some of us simply weren't privy to that memo.

    Understanding the use of face masks and other preventive measures as recommended, whilst covid is still circulating at fairly high (albeit decreasing) levels is hardly rocket science. If only to reduce the numbers / help to starve the virus of additional hosts and to bring about a quicker return to normality.

    As to the last part - your comments here do come across with some fairly enthusiastic anti mask rhetoric especially where you conflated all face masks with "cheap cloth masks" in your earlier comments or suggesting all masks were worthless because some fail to use them properly

    And its not so much as you suggest "masking up to feel better/ safer" rather simply following public heath advise and understanding that personal responsibility for the management of the spread of covid infections is not the sole reserve of the "old and sick". We all have a role to play there.

    Btw the "label" thing you referred to. That was simply following your lead with regard to the "pro maskers" type terminology in your previous comment.

    Post edited by Mecanudo on


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    First recommendation....? How about "Put NPHET on a permanent footing" ....sure as night follows day....

    National Public Health Emergency Team is its title. There is no longer an emergency. They can be formed and dissolved by the MoH. Once masks go and associated rules go so do they as they have no rationale to exist anymore. Expert group will be interesting, more so in terms of how we can do things better the next time. At the end of the day all they can do is recommend and the report could be just shelved.



  • Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    People can do with masks as they see fit. We are probably 4 weeks off the end of them save in very specific areas so I really don't get why there is a need for a rerun of a 2020 argument at this very late stage.



  • Registered Users Posts: 536 ✭✭✭thebronze14


    All the talking about winning etc because of taking a vaccine/ not taking a vaccine is embarrassing. It's not a competition, it's a virus there are no winners or losers. People taking moral high ground from any side of this is a bit childish tbh. People did what was right for them, bit weird gloating about it. It was like a lot of the early narrative around the virus was akin to fighting a war. Some kept the narrative going throughout. Maybe it was to contexualise it or feel important or that they were doing something to beat it perhaps. It was and is a virus, not a war and there is no winners and losers!



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,122 ✭✭✭c montgomery


    Covid isn't gone, it's just most people don't care about it anymore.

    It's no longer something to be feared, now it's more of an inconvenience.


    Life returning to normal for the normal.

    For the paranoid or neurotic.... don't drag us down to your level


    Anyone for pints?



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    Some people will no doubt "do what they seem fit" even when there is just 4 weeks to run under current guidance. But imho the same people are mainly the same who have screamed blue murder when any public health guidance whatsoever has been given during the pandemic.

    Yes I'm fairly sure you don't "get" it. But if you don't mind, I reckon most people, myself included will continue to take public health advice from professionals who do! Thanks all the same.



  • Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    I'd say you're taking this all far too seriously. One should also be dubious of people claiming that other people don't get it! It presumes they have the expertise and skill to make such judgements about other people. I think you're just annoyed people don't share your view of masks. People mask as required because it is required. When we don't have to the vast majority will not but we won't judge those who continue to do so.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭Mecanudo


    Not at all. It's a discussion.

    And btw it was yourself who claimed you did not "get" it

    Not "my view of face masks" either, rather adherence to public health advice which is under discussion.

    Maybe check your previous comment re "judging" others.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,839 ✭✭✭mcsean2163


    They are literally saying they would prefer restrictions so they are allowed continue WFH. That's a cohort happy to go along with any covid19 stuff to avoid having to go into the office.



  • Registered Users Posts: 16,648 ✭✭✭✭astrofool


    At 95%+ vax rate, it's not about waiting for them to fold, no one cares, it was about managing the hospitals and cases until we could manage reopening and then dropping all restrictions. The fact that some of the unvaxxed idiots think they were fighting some system is pretty hilarious as it means they believe a conspiracy theory but are too chicken to say it out loud, the world is moving on without them (though they will have to keep paying for tests when traveling while the vaxxed won't, so they get to be reminded of their idiocy until travel passes for COVID are dropped, if ever).

    The vaccines are safe, they reduce infection and transmission rates, almost eliminate deaths and reduce severity of symptoms for those who do get infected, they've let us get through the pandemic in record time (and have been highly effective against variants which was a big unknown) and the technology used to create them will help us through future viral pandemics. Billions of people have taken them. They're also cheap as chips (not 5G chips!) compared to other medical treatments.

    But it is interesting watching the revisionism at play as they have one last bout with an enemy that never existed :)



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,574 ✭✭✭User1998


    All I’m seeing is people saying they would rather work from home. I didn’t see any mention of restrictions, I must have missed it



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,583 ✭✭✭Penfailed


    So now that the dust has settled somewhat...what's the story with all those that thought we'd be locked down in January? ...that we'd have severe restrictions for three months? ...this classic - "When will play centres need to check covid certs for a six year old before letting them in? Anyone who thinks this isn't on the way is a moron." ..."may as well write Easter off already" ..."No chance will passes be done away with, just a matter of time before other things are added to it." ...mandatory vaccinations? ..."Another Paddy's Day in lockdown is looking very likely." ..."No booster no job on it's way next without a doubt."

    Can you now see that all your fretting and doom mongering and hyperbole was a load of shíte? It was comical reading this thread from around the 18th of December until the tale end of last week. Yis were in competition with each other to come up with crazy forecasts. Thanks for the amusement.

    Gigs '24 - Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball (Gomez), The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smashing Pumpkins/Weezer, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Stendhal Festival, Forest Fest, Electric Picnic, Ride, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Public Service Broadcasting, Therapy?, IDLES(x2)



  • Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭MilkyToast


    I would like to be the first to congratulate you on your accurate prediction. After nearly two full years of getting it wrong every single time and insisting that the "doom mongers" were talking a load of shite, finally—finally!—here you are.

    It must be a relief to be up on that high horse after such a long time of being repeatedly covered in manure.

    Bravo!


    “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." ~C.S. Lewis



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,583 ✭✭✭Penfailed


    Gigs '24 - Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball (Gomez), The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smashing Pumpkins/Weezer, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Stendhal Festival, Forest Fest, Electric Picnic, Ride, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Public Service Broadcasting, Therapy?, IDLES(x2)



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Making stuff up again I see.

    Ye are getting so tetchy at being proven so wrong



  • Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭MilkyToast


    You didn't prove anything wrong. You quite literally asked for any evidence of collateral damage from restrictions, then when I provided it you declared it nonsense and hand-waved it.

    I don't think anyone living in a fantasy land where there's zero cost to shutting down and restricting all aspects of social and economic activity to varying degrees for almost two years has any room to talk about being proven wrong, but we can revisit in five years if you'd like.

    “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." ~C.S. Lewis



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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,583 ✭✭✭Penfailed


    Varadkar has been spouting shíte since the start. I don't understand how anyone took him seriously after sneaking the 'quotes' into the serious public announcements.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Niamh on

    Gigs '24 - Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball (Gomez), The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smashing Pumpkins/Weezer, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Stendhal Festival, Forest Fest, Electric Picnic, Ride, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Public Service Broadcasting, Therapy?, IDLES(x2)



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