Covid19 Part XVII-24,841 in ROI (1,639 deaths) 4,679 in NI (518 deaths)(28/05)Read OP

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

*sigh*

That's hilarious.

Just wondering with the massive reduction in air travel/car travel etc and businesses being closed around the globe. Is this the cleanest air that we have ever breathed or more then likely will ever breath in our life times? Silly question just curious on it.

retro:electro wrote: »

They deliberated and dithered over moving to stage 1 so much, a stage which I referred to as stage 0 with a fake moustache and glasses, that I have NO hope of them moving them to any other stages with any confidence. They haven’t a monkeys what they’re at. No doubt there’ll be some reason why we can’t move on a phase or accelerate it because of xyz abcdefg. We have absolutely no say in this.

Judging by my expereince in the Relaxo-Restricto thread, it's fair to say we have opposing views on a lot of this.

I know you think we're moving far too slowly out of these phases and, sure, when you look at the plans other European countries have put in place, to wonder why Ireland has such a conservative outlook isn't unreasonable.

But, even though I'm a fully paid up and card carrying member of the so-called doom and gloom brigade, in some sense I have a bit of hope in ways that, perhaps, you don't.

If the next three weeks go according to plan and rates of community transmission continue to fall, there's simply no way the government won't accelerate the plan - you can bet your house on it.

First of all, they'll want to. Many people don't want to acknowledge this, but the state would love to lift restrictions if they could. It's not credible to say they wouldn't - every week, every day the economy remains shut down costs an awful lot of money. Money lost in terms of economic activity, revenue for the state and billions and billions that have to be paid out. And it puts the economy at a serious competitive disadvantage relative to others if everyone else can be clearly seen to be getting about their business while we're standing still. Factors like these won't be ignored.

Secondly, people won't stay locked down until August if the situation continues to improve. Businesses will open up and people will get on with life. And there's not much that the government or the powers of the state will be able to do about it. The lockdown and restrictions etc have been widely observed because people, in the main, consented to them - at least up until this point. But if people decide that it's safe to get back to living - then people will get back to living and won't wait for approval. It's already plainly obvious that the authorities don't really have the manpower to do much about it; I can count the amount of guards I've seen during this period of lockdown on the fingers of one hand.

The political pressure will also be enormous - the calls to open up and get on with it will be non-stop and deafening. And I wouldn't disagree. If the numbers improve there isn't a credible reason to be taking until August. It will happen.

BUT

I think the approach over the next three weeks is very, very important and it's right to be cautious at the beginning. We don't know what will happen when restrictions are lifted. We simply don't. You need a period of longer than a fortnight to get a proper sense of how the rates of transmission are effected. All being well, it won't be bad - but you don't know. There's a lot at stake: you can't be caviler. Risk vs Reward.

People are very dismissive of talk of a second wave, but there's a definite possibility - perhaps not a probability - that it could occur. Only a fool tests the water with both feet. And, yes, some other countries are moving at a quicker pace than ourselves right now but it is extremely early days and their own fates aren't certain right now either. We should watch and learn. It's prudent to be careful. If the picture looks better down the road, then it's very easy to move along at a quicker pace, but, move too quickly - and we have no concrete proof that it's a good idea - and we'll have to retrace our steps; then that is a very difficult situation indeed.

RGARDINR wrote: »

Just wondering with the massive reduction in air travel/car travel etc and businesses being closed around the globe. Is this the cleanest air that we have ever breathed or more then likely will ever breath in our life times? Silly question just curious on it.

I am a Dub living in Wexford. Hardly ever hear a plane in the Sky. The air here smells good just as it always has. Used to work in Tallagh. The car needed to be washed every week. Now I never have to wash it.

ACitizenErased wrote: »

The main issue with the future of this is, unless other countries also control the virus, it's going to keep spreading. The American continent may be a no-go zone for a while to come.

Hopefully not, as they say if there’s a will there’s a way. I’m on the wine meself ;-)

Obama:

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0517/1138882-obama-trump-criticism/

"More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing," Mr Obama told graduates from several dozen historically black colleges and universities at the first ceremony.

"A lot of them aren't even pretending to be in charge," he said as he discussed the implications of the pandemic during the online event, without naming any specific leaders.

That celebration was followed by a second, star-studded prime-time ceremony for high school students in which the former president continued along the same lines, telling students to step up where leaders had failed.

He said: "If the world is going to get better, it's going to be up to you."

"Doing what feels good, what's convenient, what's easy -- that's how little kids think.

"Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way -- which is why things are so screwed up."

The US death toll has risen above 90,000.

Sorry but we only do real news in this thread.

The happy smack talk is in the other thread.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058076432

I contracted some kind of cold/flu...
I went out of my way to avoid people, wear gloves.
The only place I went for the past 2 months is to Tesco once a week - late in the evening when there's nobody there. No other face to face interaction with people other than that.
I hope it's not the coronavirus. If it is then this thing spreads by air.

it's probably posted/mentioned here a lot, but can't go through all the posts, simple question, what's the best international website with data for new infections deaths, etc.? Always used the BNO website, it's not updated for weeks..thanks a mil.

I can visualise the dark silhouette of the grim reaper lurking around the corner for those who are blasé about the coronavirus crisis. Sharpening his scythe with the bones of those who previously refused to listen to the experts. Waiting for Timmy who had a house party last week. Waiting for Mary who got her hair cut and coloured in a bootleg hairdressers. Waiting for little Jimmy who thought it would be a great idea to meet his mates, swap Xbox games and share a can of monster.

Paddygreen wrote: »

I can visualise the dark silhouette of the grim reaper lurking around the corner for those who are blasé about the coronavirus crisis. Sharpening his scythe with the bones of those who previously refused to listen to the experts. Waiting for Timmy who had a house party last week. Waiting for Mary who got her hair cut and coloured in a bootleg hairdressers. Waiting for little Jimmy who thought it would be a great idea to meet his mates, swap Xbox games and share a can of monster.

Or Mary's elderly relatives....

Rob A. Bank wrote: »

Or Mary's elderly relatives....

Seriously, the drama. I would so hate to be stuck in the head of someone so fearful. There is literally close to zero mortalities besides the elderly in care homes and other vulnerable people in over crowded conditions FACT. Normal life needs to resume ASAP.