Is isolation by not-so-sick workers gonna shut down the country?

Was in a coffee shop earlier, it was closed at 3pm due to most staff being off isolating due to the Covid scenario. LIDL was acutely short of staff too, but remained open, just about. Feels almost as if as many people are off sick as are working. I know it’s a bank holiday, coffee shops are a luxury etc, but is this a pattern that’s goi g to increase to such an extent that the country is almost going to come to a halt?

I know lots of people with Covid, but most of them are sick of isolating rather than feeling significantly sick. I know the hospitals have to be protected against an overwhelming number of ICU cases, but it’s a strange thing to have so many people out sick who feel perfectly capable of doing a day’s work.

Im quite optimistic about the overall Covid situation myself, but none of us really know how it will pan out. I feel we are all going to get Omicron come hell or high water, so I suppose it is more a matter of taking turns at having it rather than avoiding it altogether.

I mean look at the UK with the “pingdemic” things will slow down dramatically absolutely.

the absolute bare essentials will still operate though you can be assured of that. Just expect delays, longer lines & most certainly non essential retail having to close early or just stay closed for a period.

times ahead are not looking good.

EmmetSpiceland

It’s much preferable, that if we’re all going to get Omicron, that we don’t all get it at once. People isolating are doing the right thing.

While Omicron appears to be less “dangerous” that the other strains it will still put some people in hospital. If asymptomatic people stop isolating and just spread it about the community it would overwhelm the health service and all of our, collective, sacrifices will have been for nothing.

Crocodile Booze

Keep AH Covid free. There's literally a whole forum dedicated to it. Surely that's enough.

Strumms

My last job anyone who called in sick had to answer a series of questions by your manager over the phone …

what symptoms ?

when did they start ?

had you been knowingly around anyone unwell / with similar or the same symptoms ?

if you saw a gp what did they diagnose/tell you ?

———————————————

I imagine the same sort of phone interrogation will be commonplace or I’d imagine thinking about it maybe employers will be emailing people documents with the same or similar questions to be completed, signed and returned…

——————————————-

the pandemic will give great scope for dodgy employees and dodgy employers to take the piss..

it will be the honest employee playing by the rules who will get shafted by both sides.

business will see staff shortages yes and decent employees will be overworked…

Outkast_IRE

Alot of companies , large multinationals in particular have had very strict procedures in place for any type of illness in the last 18 months for workers on their sites . So i think they will be hit hardest as alot of people simply cannot return under their protocols which cover any illness not just covid.

As an example in my wifes company right now if you have any type of illness you must be 48 hours completely symptom free before returning to work. My wife had a upper respiratory viral infection over the break (Not Covid) but has a lingering tickling cough which may take another week to clear she cant go in tomorrow even though her GP has cleared her as ok following a visit last week. Before she can return the company will organise a virtual GP consult before she is let back in.

El_Duderino 09

I'd say it's possible there will be some minor inconveniences ahead. If a coffee shop has to close, the it could happenntonother places. I suppose the whole point of restrictions it to allow society not keep moving without covid being so widespread that places like hospitals, government departments, supermarkets and gardai don't have to close.

Is that your point, op? Supporting prudent restrictions to avoid the scenarios in your local coffee shop being replicated in your local hospital?

angela1711

Do you all seriously know so many people that had/ are currently infected with COVID ? I know maybe 5 people that had it since it all started. 2 of them wouldn’t even know they had it if it wasn’t for their work doing regular tests. One was a teenager but her parents never got it. I have obviously heard about people in town or whatever being sick but the 5 people I refer to are people I actually know.

Two of the lads from work had it, we would be in contact with each other a lot hardly ever wearing masks unless speaking directly to clients but I never got it unless I was asymptomatic but if that was the case my husband, child, parents and everyone either myself or my immediate family came in contact with would have to be asymptomatic too.

Confused11811

It's a farce at this stage. This variant is so weak its crazy to have otherwise fit people sitting at home. Who are we protecting ? The ones who didn't get vaccinated ? I don't really care about them, they made a choice and can live with whatever the consequences are. Protection of the old and sick people on death's door regardless of COVID ? Yeah let's deny them human contact in what ever time they have left , that's such a humane thing to do, let's leave them with zero quality of life.

Open everything up and let have massive session next weekend.

PS I'm PCR confirmed COVID-19 positive, with zero symptoms, as is everyone in my house. Everyone I know who has a positive PCR or antigen (there is alot of them) is exactly the same.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118412686#Comment_118412686

I’m leaning towards this type of thinking of late.

TheMilkyPirate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118412669#Comment_118412669

At the moment there's 4 of us in the house I'm in with it and then we both know another 10 outside in our friend group who have it. 5 of them only had it 3 months ago and have it again now. Not one of us have a symptom.

I imagine the authorities don’t know quite what to do. The bottom line really is how it affects hospitals and that’s the sum of it, really. I’d like to know what exact percentage who have had to be admitted to hospitals on account of Covid have the Omicron variant. For those who might be in hospital because of plain refusal of vaccine, they may be partly responsible for holding up the country, though this is a very divisive train of thought.

PmMeUrDogs

It's an absolute nightmare tbh.

I don't care if I have to queue longer or if some places have to close.

But I work in a form of retail and it's been a nightmare. Every branch is decimated by close contacts (very, very few testing positive thankfully). I'm changing my staff's rotas literally daily at this stage. I'm managing multiple branches instead of just my own. I'm getting texts, emails and calls morning, noon and night instead of during my 9-5 days. And all of my staff are furious at me because I'm having to redeploy them to help other branches.

I hope to god they make a change to allow boosted, asymptomatic contacts to work if they do a daily antigen

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118412669#Comment_118412669

My Dad, who was 81, got it in April 2020. He died from it 7 days later. 35 residents in his nursing home died of it between March and May 2020, according to media reports.

My 8-year-old twin daughters got it the week begore Christmas. Slightly runny nose and a mild headache for a day where their only symptoms. The rest of us in the house (who are vaxed but not boosted yet) didn't get it at all, despite isolating with (not from) them for 10 days.

Other than those, I know (counts on fingers) 16 people in my wife's family that had it, some of them twice (these would all be people I know well). Some were very sick, some mildly, and some asymptomatic. None needed hospitalisation. There’s 3 of them that currently have it, none are very sick.

In work I know a few people that had it, and a few more who's immediate family (partners or children) had it.

Ten of Swords

https://www.boards.ie/categories/coronavirus-covid-19