Relaxation of Restrictions, Part IV - **Read OP for Mod Warnings**

Deleted User wrote: »

The whole social distancing is basically a load of rubbish anyways. Its impossible to ever enforce. You can have a queue of 200 people spaced 2m apart. If 1 person then walks alongside the queue all the way to the back, they've potentially contaminated every single person. Almost everyone I know is reporting that social distancing currently isn't working anyways. And yet there are no spikes in cases.

Afaik, this isn't correct. Luke O'Neill explained it as if you pass someone briefly with Covid you most likely will be fine. It's continued exposure, say 5 minutes having a chat, with an infected person, within your 2 metres that puts you at risk. That's why social distancing in any public place matters.

Where I live in Dublin, most people in shops/parks etc are definitely still practicing social distancing measures. After three months of practicing it and getting used to the habit, I don't see why people expect it to suddenly fall apart, unless willfully done.

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

So if you live in County Louth you are only 'allowed' to travel 20km but if you live in say Mitchelstown Co Cork you are 'allowed' to travel as much as 140km if you wanted to visit scenic west Cork Has some 'study' come to the conclusion that those living in Co Louth are more likely to have this virus?
The govt and the 'experts' are just making it all up as they go along.

It was explained at the briefing. The idea is that they don't want people from counties where there's still infection moving en masse to counties where there is no longer infection. The regulations also have to be written into legalisation, to they have to be expressed in a way that is only open to the most limited interpretation. The physical distance you can travel is nothing to do with it – they had to find a way of expressing the wish for people to be able to increase their movement locally without it becoming a free-for-all nationally. As Leo admitted, there’s no perfect way to do this, so any way of restricting movement is an imperfect compromise. It's really nothing to do with anyone making it up as they go along.

And any time I see the word experts written in quotes, I'm reminded of Michael Gove. Which is not a compliment.

Ginger n Lemon wrote: »

Bear in mind Denmark are 1 month now with 1 metre social distancing and the "enormous risk" just hasnt materialised there?

And, you know, theres Italy and a host of other countries who are at 1 metre now. For 4 + weeks now.

I have been out at the weekend in a region where the 'official' distance has been reduced to 1m, and the bars are all open. I say 'official' as in reality there was no distancing at all, whatsoever.

People have a few drinks and everything just goes out the window, nobody bothers caring less. Same with the pools and sports grounds which have opened, nobody is taking any notice any more. It is strange how quickly public perception can change. Only a few weeks ago the police were coming down hard on groups gathered together. Eaten bread is soon forgotten I guess.

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

How did you feel about the smoking ban when that was brought in back in 2004? Was that "crap" too?

I love the smoking ban yes and think it's great- but fail to see what that has good to do with non sensical Coronabollix. I'm sure you can enlighten us?

skallywag wrote: »

I have been out at the weekend in a region where the 'official' distance has been reduced to 1m, and the bars are all open. I say 'official' as in reality there was no distancing at all, whatsoever.

People have a few drinks and everything just goes out the window, nobody bothers caring less. Same with the pools and sports grounds which have opened, nobody is taking any notice any more. It is strange how quickly public perception can change. Only a few weeks ago the police were coming down hard on groups gathered together. Eaten bread is soon forgotten I guess.

Thats what i see in my area in Dublin too. Lads keep gathering drinking cans outdoors 0 social distancing. It seems like a lot of people are making an effort to ignore Simon we are not there yet Harris.

My local Aldi people climb all over each other lol noone has time to stand there and wait for a shopper to finally pick out pack of mince that expires at the latest date....

stephenjmcd wrote: »

R could well reach 1. Lower your cases are the higher it will go, perfect example Switzerland last week reported R at just over 1, simply because of such a low number of cases.

Business will be (rightly) extremely resistant to any re-imposition of insane closures- tbh I can never see this happening again. The experience has left a very bad taste- shambolic political leadership and hiding behind Nphet have seen to that. Why would you close again without any clear direction or timelines and basically be left high and dry?

IQO wrote: »

IKEA queues

I fully agree with shops opening up with social distancing, etc.

And I know that the queues seem longer because of the 2m distancing.

And I know it's the first day, and things will settle down.

And I have plenty of Ikea furniture, and have a list of stuff I want to get at some point.

Buy why, WHY would someone put themselves though standing in a queue of any length in order to shop there on the very first day of restrictions actually easing? Even on a good day, shopping in Ikea is the most dismal experience you can have. Imagine that being the first place you decided to go to with your new found freedom of going anywhere in your county or 20km from your home.

Been trying to get in contact with our local gym to open the 5 aside pitches. No word if they're gonna open.

paw patrol wrote: »

a vaccine? how long will you wait for a vaccine? years? What happens if they can't make one?

what happens if the infection goes away - will you still insist on us maintaining distance till a vaccine (which may never come)

Vaccines are on target for 2021, and for some countries possibly even earlier. There's also other things in the pipeline which can be used to treat the illness e.g. monoclonal antibodies, which should be available this year.

Sure if these things run into trouble and it turns out we have to wait years the calculation will change, but we're not there yet. There's a reasonable amount of time we can wait for a vaccine and/or a treatment before we decide we need to let the disease run its course through the population.

Deleted User wrote: »

There should be no travel restrictions at all!
I don't think any other country in the world is doing this.....

Ginger n Lemon wrote: »

I think France was the last one to lift their 100km restriction.

2nd last that is. We are last?:rolleyes:

My point is, no matter what is called for in this thread (bar complete reopening), when it comes to fruition, the same people that called for it just ignore it and move on complaining about the next thing.

It's getting tiresome.