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

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439792#Comment_118439792

They are constantly saying if new information comes out about the virus that they won't hesitate to change the restrictions before they were due to expire

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439817#Comment_118439817

It really is quite alarming , the lack of PCR tests , I was thinking earlier that if NPHET hadn't suddenly become so positive about antigen testing , we're in God's name would the country be given only a fraction of cases being detected via the PCR route.

There's more and more reports on the costs of these antigen tests and I have to guess a lot of people not even doing them because of the expense.

The dogs on the street knew a surge was coming with Omicron, obviously it's not as dangerous as Delta but that's not really the point. It's an extraordinary situation really 🙄

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439837#Comment_118439837

Yep and that stance quickly sweep under the carpet when things seem positive

Stheno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439858#Comment_118439858

They still don't have the data in fairness I'd say they will give it to the end of next week

stephenjmcd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439837#Comment_118439837

Saying and doing are 2 different things. We all know nothing is changing until the end of the month probably. That's just being realistic, nothing is usually done before something expires.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439898#Comment_118439898

Imagine the buzz if by next weekend or weekend after there is a proper reopening plan published starting the 31st Jan and maybe 'close to normal as possible' penciled in to start from Monday Feb 28th

I won't hold my breath and the usual singles of 'needing more time for data and caution' will come to play

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118438847#Comment_118438847

I see the Dáil being closed as a positive to be honest. Less time for them to ram through some more stupid restrictions on our lives.

Stheno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439933#Comment_118439933

I expect them to give an update late next week tbh

All the comments by NPHET and govt this week have been positive. Even Mary Favier came out and said she has not sent a single positive person to hospital and its time to soon look at restrictions

bloopy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439401#Comment_118439401

The EU covid passes do absolutely nothing to address any of the points in your post.

Unvaccinated can still travel.

Neither vaccinated or unvaccinated will be guaranteed covid free.

Spread can still happen on the plane ( ironically more likely from vaccinated passengers)

Disease can be exported to any country in the EU.

The passes are pointless. They only work if vaccination prevents infection and transmission. They don't.

Also the inconvenience I referred to was the pcr test. Not the vaccination.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439970#Comment_118439970

Yeah its a bit of a surreal feeling and its hard not to be a bit of cynical of it

The HorsesMouth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439848#Comment_118439848

It absolutely is the point.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440137#Comment_118440137

So it's fine not to be picking up Omicron infections or because it's not ( apparently) as severe a variant as Delta it's fine 🤔

Fair enough if that your opinion.

I'll agree to disagree

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440036#Comment_118440036

They only work if vaccination prevents infection and transmission. They don't.

They work if they reduce infection and transmission, which they have.

Omicron may change that science but it won't change anything until there is peer reviewed data available rather than a bunch of people declaring it's a cold (who claimed it was a cold from the beginning usually).

Even with Omicron, I don't see them being dropped for international travel, more likely to go the other way as other countries catch up on vaccination stats.

It's also not "punishing" someone, it's a measure taken during a once in a century pandemic, the population aren't children to be punished.

brickster69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440036#Comment_118440036

They work well at keeping those pesky unvaccinated from having a cup of tea in a cafe good though.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439898#Comment_118439898

I think it's more a question of if they need to tighten restrictions they'll do it early but if they can loosen them they won't

The HorsesMouth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440172#Comment_118440172

Yes this is exactly my opinion. And it's the opinion of NPHET and the government otherwise we'd be in lockdown.

bucketybuck

As others have said, if numbers were rising you can be damn there would be no waiting until the existing regulations expired. There would be leaks, letters of concern and a trip to the podium for Michael all within a few days.

Its now a month since I asked in here how long we would have to wait for acknowledgement that Omicron was a milder virus and the immediate lessening of restrictions that should result from that.

Since I asked that question ICU numbers have dropped, restrictions have increased, and it continues to remain "another few weeks" before there will be any official acknowledgment that Omicron is a mild virus.

All so very predictable.

darconio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440036#Comment_118440036

Not sure if you are referring to this, but it's definitely a good argument to support the futility of covid pass

125 Plane Passengers Test Positive for COVID As Ambulances Swarm Airport (msn.com)

Anybody taking an airplane from Italy had to present a negative test, on arrival 125 out of 179 were positive

Also consider how useful were those masks...

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118438976#Comment_118438976

Why would I want to? The staff shortages are due to the virus.

charlie14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440036#Comment_118440036

Again missing the point.

Because the unvaccinated are disproportionally putting pressure on all EU countries healthcare systems, its in all their interests to encourage as many as possible to become vaccinated. Be they residents of their own countries or others.

Why should the care about inconveniencing a group that have refused to avail of a perfectly safe free vaccine when they have no problem inconveniencing their health care systems by putting them under unnecessary pressure

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439114#Comment_118439114

sigh

We're not locked down.

mightyreds

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440896#Comment_118440896

Cause you know what you were at leaving out info like that.

It wasn't my argument so I'm not getting involved but I was thinking when I read it I didn't hear about England's hospitals been overwhelmed and the army coming in till I checked after reading your post only to see you weren't telling the full story.

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440833#Comment_118440833

Well you're right, you are now just pedaling misinformation and conspiracies, so well done there.

is it even worth going down the debunking route (again) for everything in that post?

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440850#Comment_118440850

To give a realistic answer (as other countries haven't reversed much either yet), it's unlikely to happen until scientific consensus has been reached on Omicron and that probably won't be rushed, I'm sure we'll see a new study confirming what everyone is seeing relatively soon, then restrictions should unwind quickly from there.

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440833#Comment_118440833

Not sure what your last sentence has to do with this topic...but anyway.

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440938#Comment_118440938

That's simply because that was all I'd heard. I hadn't heard the full story either. It wasn't a purposeful omission.

MTU

When are bars back open beyond 8pm? Triple vaccinated.

Richard Hillman

https://twitter.com/NextIrishGE/status/1479947406926090246?t=qv9weHCiilQVO9J6-zWiRQ&s=19

We are screwed as a nation

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118441511#Comment_118441511

So the answer is "who knows". We need a so far undefined scientific consensus, after that there won't be a rush, and then maybe it will be relatively soon.

The scientific consensus clearly won't include all those who have already stated that is a milder virus, people like the south African doctor who identified it in the first place.

But at least the restrictions will unwind quickly from that unknown point with no defined metrics whatsoever. And despite restrictions having never once unwound quickly at any point of this pandemic.

You are absolutely correct that this is all realistic.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118441797#Comment_118441797

Yep were fucked

People saying were not locked down ?, so they changed opening hours for Hospitality and Entertainment venues for **** and giggles was it ?