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

So tell me what countries has a discriminatory vaccine passport system where antigen tests are not accepted? Yeah would be interesting to see how many have indoor dining closed like us or are implementing a discriminatory vaccine passport system that doesn't accept antigen testing?

A friend of mine witnesses yesterday a man around 40, walking outdoors, in the space of two minutes, put on his mask and take it off again 3 or 4 times. He would put it on as somebody walked towards him, and take it off again after the person walked past him.

This is not normal behaviour. I really worry for some people. They've been damaged by the hysteria.

Hating the new site BTW. Not easy to use on mobile.

"Considered"

But not part of the legislation - so its discriminatory.

A vague commitment to "consider" PCR or antigen tests does not negate the fact that we are about to have in place, a system whereby vaccinated people have rights to enter places that the unvaccinated do not.

Unlike other member states who rolled it out with free antigen testing, we have no testing available as a substitute for vaccination (or proof-of-recovery), which is in contravention of the council of Europes resolutions on vaccine passports also.

https://rm.coe.int/protection-of-human-rights-and-the-vaccine-pass/1680a1fac4

The HSE and government are looking to implement antigen testing in certain circumstances. NPHET are dead against their use anyway so their opinion doesn't matter. The fact that it is used in other countries is enough of a case for its use.

You (aswell as NPHET) act like those are the only choices we have - discriminatory vaccine passport or no hospitality.

When we could easily have antigen or PCR tests accepted also right now. Antigen testing is done by private operators all over the country (you use it for entry to most EU countries as part of EU covid pass).

It would be fairly easy to roll out antigen testing further. Its easier than PCR tests to set up and results are very quick.

If the HSE can open walk in testing centres all over the country, they could just as easily have walk in antigen testing or else allow pharmacies to do antigen tests. The testing & results will be available onsite - no need for deliveries to labs.

What we do know is on whatever day our indoor dining opens next week, we'll have the only discriminatory vaccine passport system in Europe against those who are young and healthy.

Looking at something or considering something means nothing.

Discriminatory or not there are no alternate systems yet. Government got caught out by the NHPET "sobering figures" and their insistence on this measure. While it's of no great consolation, we should be looking at 80%+ fully vaccinated by the end of next month with the knock-on effect on infections.

Where they really got caught out was by listening to NPHETs anti science on antigen tests months ago but because they did this is governments mess of their own making.

I'd be hugely surprised if we see antigen testing for indoor dining before end of August if at all. We've heard nothing about it in 2 weeks. Surely the plan would be in place by now if they wanted to use and the next few weeks would be implementing how to roll it out. There's no plan and no want of a plan on antigen testing for this.

Ah yes, another pilot is being done, this time on antigen testing in colleges. Might be completed by September, a few months to compile and come to findings by Christmas by which stage NPHET might or might have a quick look at it before dismissing it, just like the Ferguson report.

Outdoors, walking past somebody. Sorry that's not normal behaviour.