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

To me it sounds like the CMO is laying the groundwork for keeping these measures long-term without justification. The science shows us that Omicron is dominant, does not usually translate to severe illness, and puts little additional strain on the health service. Despite these facts, our experts are insisting on maintaining restrictive measures. What’s worse the measures they want to continue seem to have little effect against the spread of the virus (mask mandate in place but we had 10s of thousand of detected cases per day…).

I really hope you’re right and that all of the remaining measures are lifted soon but I find it really difficult to trust our experts when they don’t seem to be following the science.

I have read the RSV another respiratory virus in children is rampant at the moment. I cant see them telling us this restriction is for a non covid illness..but apparently children are getting sick from it, and are ending up in hospital too.

I personally dont think the masks work to the effect they were sold to us, but reading an article the other day and weakened immune systems in children due to less exposure/lockdowns/pods etc, means we now have an increase in RSV in children. RSV is more dangerous to children than covid.

However, same concerns for elderly/vunerable etc to catch RSV are there. the issue really is.. do we accept the masks/ windows open etc to reduce the possible spread of this RSV, because, they cant in reality tell us its not for Covid, but for something else?

Or is it they want to keep up with the covid theatre, I am in no way pro-tony, but this is the only explanation that I can see..

Whats the story with the co2 monitors in classrooms? , has co2 gotten anything to do with covid??

All the schools have these now and unless the windows are open it seems these monitors go red. Never had them when i was a kid and nobody seemed to suffer but are our kids going to have to shiver every winter foreveer now because of these devices? Talk about the cure being worse than the disease.

We kind of used 1918 as the template for a global pandemic but I agree it was mostly countries just copying each other. Our pandemic plan IIRC was at least a decade old and largely cut and pasted from an older Australian document, Italy's was well over 20 years old.

"Whats the story with the co2 monitors in classrooms? , has co2 gotten anything to do with covid??"

Show if air exchange is sufficeint or not, I presume.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2022/0202/1277247-coronavirus-politics/

NPHET latest advice, in a change from the norm I can see wide public support but not much support from govt

Weird flex. "I've posted more than you so your opinion doesn't count"...?

Already the first signs Feb 9th will be glossed over from a CMO point of view.

I really want to see the next news they'll release in the days before Feb 28th

Does anyone know for sure what the mask requirement is now in hospitality? I thought it was no longer required in pubs, restaurants, cafes, etc. but was asked to wear one in the queue for a coffee today. When I said I thought that rule had been lifted I was told that masks still apply. I’ve looked at different newspapers that all give conflicting reports (e.g. not required in hospitality, not required in pubs, all places where masks have been required remain the same, etc.)

What exactly is legally binding at this point?

Not legally required - it's a local shop policy by the sound of it or they're confused themselves!

Personally I would just say "you're grand thanks" and take my business elsewhere than indulge continued and unwarranted scaremongering

I'd be the same.. can't stand the damn things - some people may be fine with them and that's fine too, but I find them incredibly uncomfortable, unnatural and generally use one of the plastic shields when I'm doing the weekly shopping. I also remain wholly unconvinced as to the value of them given how most treat them and wear them, but again - each to their own.

If the legislation isn't updated on the 9th (which is unlikely of course - it'll probably be extended no doubt) then I won't be wearing them at all.