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

1st September

In a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on 25 August, published online today, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that Ireland could see a peak infection level this month of between 3,000 and 5,000 cases per day. 

You feel sorry for every normal person over there ? Why on earth would that be ? The vast vast majority aren’t affected by the virus. You should go over there and offer your condolences with the locals about the extreme misery and terror the poor English people are currently having to experience . See what response you get .It would be an enlightening experience I’d imagine . You might just find that they feel sorry for you . There is no guarantee they won’t have to reimpose restrictions just like there is no guarantee we won’t have to . Difference is they have had total normality for months now .

To criticise Johnson and England for their handling of the pandemic pre vaccine is of course completely correct . Their death count was a tragedy and Johnson’s handling of the pandemic was terrible . However to say that the reopening in England in July was a bad decision appears to me to be wrong. They may have to reimpose lower level restrictions over the winter they may not. There are no guarantees of anything in this pandemic . The future is uncertain . At least they had months of normality when they had the chance and whilst hospitalisations have risen as was expected the balance of trade between illness and society fully opening wasn’t compromised to my mind .

We put this mild illness on a pedestal, as you say, because it has the potential to shut down health care services and facilities wherever it gains a foothold. Be thankful our incredible vaccine uptake has so far and likely will continue to ensure we're not like some states in America where they're rationing healthcare and only providing crisis standards of care.

Lol, you think you're disagreeing with me but in fact you're backing up my point. You're so bitter you can't even think straight.

We reopened the pubs and restaurants in July, retail and everything else, and cases went up. The restrictions suppressed cases, lifting them increased cases. Even you agree with that, you just don't realise it.

You're a strange bunch of lads. Get out of the rabbit hole.

NPHET don't like them as a general test but the noise from the meeting yesterday seemed to suggest it's up to individual sectors to decide what they want to do with them. Donnelly/Harris are likely to have news on that front, Harris because 3rd level were keen on the idea.

ICU patients are younger now I believe, so tend not to die, higher ICU numbers as a result I suppose.

Wow got hot in here ! Had to sidestep a pile of steaming ......Horse sxxt to get here :)

No, the ordinary people in UK are suffering but all some here see are open pubs and concerts for the summer .

Most people did not avail of these facilities as they were too concerned about rising infection rates and hospitalisations and continuing deaths .

I did live in the UK, Fintan albeit many moons ago , and other countries abroad , and settled back in Ireland because Ireland is a far better place to live and rear a family , despite its faults and flaws.

I also have many friends and family over there working in various parts of the economy, as I am sure many others do here , and I have heard none praise Boris or his handling of this nor pity us in Ireland.

The NHS is at breaking point with nearly 8400 Covid cases clogging it up and taking valuable resources away from regular care . Doctors are asking for the army medics to step in to help them in many areas . At this time last year they had 1000 Covid patients , just to put it in context .

Their government have ensured that financial issues with Brexit have been compounded by their adhoc handling of the pandemic.

Thousands of working people are off sick isolating because they opened up too soon and supply chains are severely affected leading to shortages of many items on the shelves .

Companies that export cannot supply eg Mark's and Spencer which are having to close food sections .

Many businesses have reported losses there and there inflation rate is climbing. Ordinary everyday items like food and clothes have skyrocketed in price .

Their infection and death rate is appalling , among the worst in the world .

But let's clap for Boris , shall we ?

We sure haven't gotten everything right , but we have done a damn sight better than that .

And while there are a somewhat big group here that are posting regularly on this forum and on social media about how bad our handling of the pandemic has been and how awful our government and country are , it doesn't translate to a group of any significance in the general population .

Why is that ?

Irish people are a load of sheep ? Are we ignorant , complacent , unquestioning ?

No . Ireland has a very well educated population with a keen sense of morality but will only come out in force against something that really sparks our sense of injustice and anger .

Definitely a work in progress , but that's the key word , progress

Maybe some people here need to travel and live in other countries before they are so quick to bash Ireland ( cue all the usual posters living abroad currently! )

Or maybe people just need to get their travel plans and visas in order ? Seeing as how this country is the pits according to some ?

I would recommend it to all , be good for you all ! 😁

They opened and operated as restaurants. But drinking pubs stayed closed.

Well I know what country I’d rather be living in for the past 18 months anyway, and its certainly not Ireland

They will have blasted through to herd immunity before the normal winter hospital **** show begins.

We will still be dealing with covid when it happens here.