Relaxation of restrictions Part II

LuasSimon wrote: »

Bit much for Leo to tell people they can’t go anywhere for an afternoon or evening when travellers are having large funerals and 21St birthday party’s and having camps on the curragh .

That Leo is probably hosting parties in his own gaff.

LiquidZeb wrote: »

Yeah but the gardai aren't as easily able to bully the travellers into submission so they leave them be. It's easier to hassle the old woman walking her dog on her own instead.

Yes or my friend (middle class, plain as day not a criminal) whos boot they had to check for groceries coming from the local village. He was delivering them to his elderly parents, both recovering from cancer. When is someone going to shout stop?

Good article on the lockdown in NZ from RTE

New Zealand seeing the benefits of a strict lockdown
In comparing the spread of Covid-19 between the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, a University of Auckland academic highlighted the reduced numbers of community transmissions and the closing of its borders as reasons why New Zealand has achieved much in stemming the virus.

Given the similarity in the population size of the two countries, Eamon O'Brien, a Professor of Mathematics, said the number of community transmissions was key in explaining some contrasting stats.

There have been 17 deaths in New Zealand compared to almost 800 here. He referenced the number of confirmed cases in New Zealand - 1,500, versus 17,607 in the Republic of Ireland.

He also pointed out that the dispersion of people, due to a greater land mass may be one factor which contributes to the difference between community transmission rates of the two countries, which he said is 4% in New Zealand, compared to 50% in Ireland.

Professor O'Brien said the crucial factor that reduced New Zealand's transmission rate was the closure of the country's borders on the 19 March, when all non-residents were banned from admission.

He added that since then anyone coming into the country is being quarantined at the airport for two weeks courtesy of the government.

"People are being picked up at one of the country's three airports that are open and are being brought to a, in most cases, very nice hotel where they stay for two weeks, paid for by the government. People do not go back to their community and have contact with others."

The Irish figures are worrying, he said, but he added that New Zealand is now reporting just two or three new cases per day on the back of 100,000 tests, compared to 120,000 conducted in the Republic.

"Here the lockdown is serious and it is strictly enforced. People get upset and angry if they see others not complying"

Professor O'Brien mentioned that random testing of customers is being carried out at supermarkets, "to get some idea about the amount of virus in the community, and the reproductive rate is zero."

He also referenced the term "dobbing in" when people report others who are not observing Covid-19 restrictions.

"Here the lockdown is serious and it is strictly enforced. People get upset and angry if they see others not complying. They report, or dob people in to the police if they're not observing it."

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He said New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, "is not the epicentre by any means, there is not much difference between the rates of virus there than the rest of the country", which is not the case in Ireland.

"Auckland and Dublin have roughly the same population, the land mass occupied stretches a little further, the housing density but it does not explain the 44-fold difference in the number of cases."

Another stark difference, according to the Mr O'Brien, is that all restaurant and cafes have closed completely, where they have not been allowed to not run takeaway services.

"Restaurant takeaways have been completely banned. The argument was that its not just people going there to pick up but there are people working there.

They wanted to remove as many people as possible from workplaces to reduce the risk of infection. It's all very well to be making contactless payments but there will be people working in the kitchen to provide the food. This ban will cease here next week."

I though it amazing that on this evenings RTE news the focus was on people getting lax on restrictions where the western correspondent didn't mention the freaky good weather we're having, when we had storm after storm after storm here in Castlebar (where he was reporting from) for weeks before the lockdown. It's almost like he deliberately didn't mention it so we wouldn't notice. We have had one of the worst winters for rain this year and I feel I've been on lockdown since January if not longer.

LiquidZeb wrote: »

You don't think it's insulting for a taxpayer to be harassed while going about their daily business while certain groups act with near impunity?

Where was the harassment?

LiquidZeb wrote: »

You don't think it's insulting for a taxpayer to be harassed while going about their daily business while certain groups act with near impunity?

Harassed? Ah c'mon!

Penfailed wrote: »

None of it is permanent!

There will be weddings, gigs, all-Irelands, etc. Schools, pubs, colleges, restaurants, etc. will reopen.

Some things may change...but everything changes eventually anyway.

The only way these can go ahead is if Dr evil and his twin have a full frontal lobotomy, quit the patronising, accept responsibility for the nursing home fiasco, accept that not one restriction outside will have an effect inside a nursing home and realise it takes money to fight this long term.

Penfailed wrote: »

Monumental waste of time and resources? I'd say they could check someone's boot in less than a minute. It's hardly monumental.

It's vital in our fight against the Coronavirus to check if Mr. Ryan bought mint Cornettos or strawberry Cornettos. If we need to pay overtime to get this essential work done then so be it.

GazzaL wrote: »

It's vital in our fight against the Coronavirus to check if Mr. Ryan bought mint Cornettos or strawberry Cornettos. If we need to pay overtime to get this essential work done then so be it.

Who said that they were getting overtime. You're blowing a random checkpoint out of all proportion. It doesn't matter what kind of Cornetto he was buying. I'm glad the Guards are keeping a high profile checking if people are carrying out essential journeys.

Mic 1972 wrote: »

The garda are doing their job, not need to have a go at them

No its referred to as easy policing. Civilised people are easy to police. Its easy to ask a working man why did he buy so many sausages. The issue is with the Guards lack of approaching ethnic minority groups who insist on large gatherings, so no they are not doing their job to the full extent of the law

Mic 1972 wrote: »

The garda are doing their job, not need to have a go at them

Seemed to have disappeared the last week where I'm based. Heavy-ish presence a few weeks back but don't see them around any more.