Covid 19 Part XXXV-956,720 ROI (5,952 deaths) 452,946 NI (3,002 deaths) (08/01) Read OP

I was wondering moreso about the actions/precautions in question. Again, different people acted in different ways at various points.

Yeah. I've no problem with people wanting to be cautious and make their own risk assessment, but we can't build public policy around the most risk-averse and cautious people. Unfortunately I think there is a large block of people who don't really understand risk, and will have to be brought on a journey to explain that Covid isn't going away, people are going to get sick, people are going to die from it - we can't let it get out of control, but we can't also remain in an extreme lockdown once vaccinations are completed. This is a different situation to last year where none of us had any protection, the vaccines are as good as they are probably ever going to get (with some caveats), this is it.

I've noticed some serious sour grapes about them reopening that says more about those criticising it than it does about the UK. 90% of adults have had at least one dose of a vaccine and almost 70% are fully vaccinated (and climbing). There is no legitimate reason to prolong restrictions which makes me question the genuineness of those creating uncertainty and even fear about it. The anti-vaxx extremists have met their direct opposites in those crying wolf over the UK easing today.

Yes, I've noticed the same, notably from how RTE are covering it. RTE's angle is that it is a big gamble, but as RTE have repeatedly showed during the pandemic, they are straying into opinion territory, rather than strictly reporting what is happening. There are people/medical professionals who are criticising the UK's reopening, and that may be a valid criticism, but RTE are presenting the decision to reopen as reckless as if it is a given.

I know of a couple of people in their 60s who are fully vaccinated but are going to be unwilling to go inside anywhere anytime soon as vaccinated people are still getting the virus. I explained to one that the vaccination stops you from getting seriously ill as opposed to you not getting the virus at all but they weren't interested, you don't want to get it even after being fully vaxxed. That's completely his call but as said above we can't base public policy on that mindset, I'd imagine numbers for hospitality will be down for sometime even after indoor dining finally reopens.

"It's clear that those running the show know all this. NPHET are not recommending further restrictions. Reid spoke yesterday about a "bumpy ride". They have no intention of locking down again..."

My biggest fear is Micheal Martin, he has fewer vertebrae than a jellyfish and could spook when cases get higher and ISAG are presenting the Scare Byrne show again.

The recent numbers in the UK have in part been attributed to the Euro soccer matches so the absence of that driver might mean 'freedom day' won't have as much impact.

I was talking with a friend and he told me he met a mutual friend of ours in the park and this guy was masked up and very careful to stay 2 meters away. Outdoors. A fully vaccinated healthy man in his early 40s.

That kind of caution and fear is not justifiable given the low relative risk. It seems to be quite common.

Only good thing is Claire Byrne won’t be on tv during the summer only her daily frightening session in the mornings, surely she’s due a holiday to her garden shed soon??

I don't think Michael has listened much to all that rubbish tbh. ISAG recommendations have never been taken up by the government and there doesn't seem to have been a lot of attention paid to the doom-mongerers on RTE. He's very cautious and unwilling to deviate from NPHET advice; but that's both in terms of opening up and in locking down.

Yeah, I should have phrased that better. There has been this constant undercurrent that lockdowns are the disease and not a symptom. And that it's the lockdowns which are causing people to miss out on appointments. When in reality it's the explosions in case numbers which have required restrictions, and therefore impacted on hospital services.

I think for many people this "what about the cancer patients" cry has been a useful smokescreen when in reality they just want the pubs open. But my point really was that the need to maintain restrictions needs to be balanced against the impact it has on the rest of the healthcare system. We cannot aim to keep covid suppressed to the detriment of the rest of the system. Provided we are managing, then we need to move forward.

"I don't think Michael has listened much to all that rubbish tbh"

I doubt if he does either but he does listen to the electorate that are terrified by it, there are people afraid to leave their houses even now who think going to the supermarket is dangerous but driving at 120km/h on the motorway doesn't bother them.

Yeah that's pretty much it . Just hope they hold their nerve over the next month

Its sad and probably true that many will need counselling when things really start to open up again.

I get the sense that people feel that opening up is like being told by the government "off you go now, it's up to you to take it from here" and they don't really want this.

Once a person is fully vaccinated they should have a lot more freedom and be able to go back to normal. People who are not vaccinated should be advised on how to take care of themselves and be cautious.

Like, if Temple Bar is fully opened and people are congregating and going in and out and drinking then it's not like people who are not vaccinated are being forced to attend.

The same rules as last year would more or less apply. Avoid crowds. Wash hands regularly. Just it won't be mandatory anymore.

Masks seem to be a really big point of conflict and I wonder if that's because it's such an easy way to judge someone. Look at this guy not wearing his mask! I'm in danger!

Many people will probably need quite a lot of time to get over all this. Which makes sense as the whole scenario is ongoing and can be quite traumatic.

One of the reasons comparisons to the UK are ill-advised. Surprised it is so many but it does explain their rates of infection.