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

Just look around you next time you leave your room. I see quite a massive change in how things are compared to even June. Things are safely returning to a relatively normal state. If you can’t see it there’s something wrong with your perception.

There's value in that map from an infection control point of view. If the purpose of travel rules is to prevent importing cases, then all that matters are the current infection rates in the countries from which people are travelling.

It doesn't matter a shite to the US that we have our hospital numbers under control when - as you say - they are struggling to do so and want to avoid a surge. If our infection levels are high, then travel from us to them, poses a risk to them.

@timmyntc wrote:

Yes, returning to normal. In other words, not normal, but getting there. None of these restrictions will be in place by the end of Autumn.

Do you honestly think we will move away from vaccine certs for hospitality completely as we approach Christmas?

I just can’t see that happening myself. The public are on board for the most part, its cheap and self policed.

Obviously if community transmission levels plummet then it may happen but that doesn’t look likely either looking at other some countries with high vaccination uptake.

I love your optimism Seamus but not a hope in hell those restrictions will be gone by the end of autumn.

Would you put money on it?

We're soon to hit diminishing returns with our vaccine rollout, those who need protected are, and as time goes on and we edge toward winter the pressure on the health service will only increase (it happens every year prior to covid though).

Elderly people's antibodies will wane (allegedly) and need booster shots, so with all that in mind there is no way we go back to normal by start of Winter if we havent gotten there already. We should be back to normal right now - better vaccine rollout than the UK and most of Europe, yet a worse return to normal. If not now, when? And based on what criteria?

Bar a dramatic shift in approach we will still have quite a few restrictions in place by then. With the really small changes that happen and the 6 weeks between these changes it's going to be a long road and we've no idea what the plan is for the next few rounds of easing.

We will have 90%+ of adults vaccinated in the coming weeks and a fair few 12-15 year olds but that still isn't enough for things like the Dublin marathon or Electric Picnic or similar events to go ahead this year. I genuinely don't know at this stage what the end goal is but I also don't think we can have a rationale or mature debate in this country about living with Covid. You see people in the media and social media absolutely freaking out whenever a video or something emerges of people out enjoying themselves but, shock horror, might not have a mask on. Irish society and the government here are too immature to even have a measured discussion about living with Covid at the moment.

The emergency legislation which underpins vaccine certs for indoor dining expires on 9th October and can be extended for a single period of 3 months if both the seanad and the dail approve it.

Am I absolutely certain they wouldn't? Of course not. Am I fairly confident they won't? Yep. At that stage, there is no platform on which to justify it.

All restrictions up to now have been on the fact that they are temporary to achieve a goal. Last April, naively: lockdown and restrict until it goes away. September: lock down and restrict and see what hope vaccines offer. January: Restrict to reduce virus spread, maintained until the vaccination programme hits a proper level.

By October, we've shot our load, exhausted our ammo. There is no "just until". If the vaccination programme isn't good enough, there is no silver lining on the horizon. Continue restrictions for what? Until we find some magic beans?

We can't and we won't just wait out the pandemic indefinitely. There will not be another round of, "Lets just wait until everyone's had their booster", people won't accept it. "We need to lock down until January to protect the hospitals". Then what? What will magically change in January? Nothing. People won't accept it.

Infection numbers are high and hospital numbers are low. It's there plain as day for all to see. Restrictions are only going one way.

Me and my mates had planned to go to Malta only to discover they don’t accept negative PCR tests. I’m early 20’s so I haven’t gotten my second vaccine yet but most of my mates managed to get J&J. So here I am unable to travel

And not forgetting the amazing progress last night that apparently we can have outdoor social gatherings of up to 200 people ! Who knew !!

Is that in the back garden?

Would struggle to fit 25 in mine 😊

I do get why @User1998 and others in the younger age groups are pissed off.

It is true to say that the opening up so far has been in the favour of the ' less social' among us with venues like concerts gigs and nightclubs not back... Yet.

But it will come back.. Soon I hope because have a few concerts coming up! 😉

Try The Merrion I believe they have loads of room !!!

Hungary, eh yeh.

We are not on the same path as them, thank fvck!