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

Of course there are far bigger problems in Hospitals, they are full of sick people, Covid is not the only reason why people attend/stay in hospitals. But each person in hospital with Covid has to be isolated while there, so if even 50% of people in hospitals are as a result of community spread, it puts a huge strain on services.

I do not advocate going back to restrictions or mask mandates, but there really is no excuse for not understanding the benefits of wearing masks.

The thing I'd add to that sentiment though, is that you should continue to be mindful when you are going to be around people with vulnerabilities. It's an extra reminder to be careful when you possibly have any viral or bacterial infection to do what you can to ensure you don't pass it on to others, especially anyone vulnerable.

Highly transmissible new variant, high numbers in hospital, you could be the one in a million young, healthy and vaccinated people who get it etc. and a mask is fantastic.

We've heard this narrative before, many times now. Well at Christmas we had masks galore and 500000 cases a week.

Guess what? Masks made no difference.

Masks are mandatory in hospitals yet we keep getting hospital outbreaks.

Surely if masks worked this wouldn't happen?

So everybody with a positive covid test gets a private room?

How is it spreading in hospitals if they are all isolating and wearing masks?

Nor are young, fit, healthy unvaccinated people for that matter.

There is no denying a lot of people wanted it to last forever.

Back in the office now and the price of fuel!

Stephen Donnelly & Helen McEntee join Michael Martin on Covid list.

This isn't true though, many aren't but enough are, Our household is really suffering with covid this week, way worse than any cold or 'mild flu'. My wife run's marathons, my daughter is superfit, swims and dances. We're all in bits. Of my friends who have it I'd say it's 50/50 between mild symptoms and being really floored by it.

I guess it's this new variant, but I don't believe it can be so readily dismissed...

Being ill at home is hardly "very sick" though. Most people would define very sick as needing hospital or even ICU.

The numbers of vaccinated in ICU are not increasing.

We are all most likely getting this at some point so we just need to move on, and if we get it, deal with it.

The majority have most likely had it by now so herd immunity can't be far away.

Ultimately, if you think the potential of being in bed sick for a few days is worth putting your social life on indefinite hold for, fine. I would argue that's extreme and a net negative to your life.

What annoys me is when not being worried about it is described as 'stupid', and the above is not.

Absolutely this. We've had three runs of it in the house (all getting it at various times). My wife not great with it, but only for 48 hours. The rest of us fine with mild symptoms (I had no symptoms).....yet we were in various states of isolation for nearly a month. The pain of trying to sort work/childcare/school due to the current rules far outweigh the effect of the disease now.

Data would suggest the current surge has peaked. The bank holiday weekend might give a little bump in about a week, or may be inconsequential.

The media will get another couple of weeks banging on about hospital numbers and random GPs fretting on the radio about ICU numbers, before they realise surge has already passed and they're flapping their gums about something which has already happened.

Email from the boss, possibly reintroducing masks to our workplace.

i give up!

I swear I'll die a happy man if I never have to read the words "WHO special envoy David Nabarro" ever again.