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

With 90% of the population vaccinated why are we still even threatened by any possible lockdown/restriction?

I get that, but that has always been the case for the past, god-only-knows, years. The health system will be overwhelmed, nothing new, 2 years ago we got over it and we accepted x amount of death caused by the hospital mismanagement: why this year should be different?

Two years ago we got over it. One year ago we threw every other consideration out the window in order to protect our health service.

Now this year we are going to idly stand by and let it be overwhelmed?

Surely the people clapping on their balconies will not stand for that, what about our front line heroes? What about the vulnerable?

Opened pandoras box, shifted the overton window, call it whatever you want but whether we go back to restrictions or just let it all rip, this winter is going to make a lying **** hypocrite out of somebody.

In fairness, the only people are the same few, persistent, and frankly painful, posters on this thread. Who have been predicting lockdowns ever since we came out of the last one. I've no doubt that some of these posters would prefer nothing more than another lockdown (though they obviously won't admit it) for no other reason than to gleefully boast on here "see, I told you so". The country is vaccinated, people are not getting sick and dying like they were before - which is why lockdowns were implemented. Yes, hospitals are and will be busy, but not overrun with Covid like before. I can't believe we're even discussing this. Is there that much mental scarring, that throwaway comments, worst-case contingency plans, etc. are being used (again by the same few on here) as evidence of further lockdowns? Government and NPHET, as recently as this week, reiterated that the reopening will be going ahead as planned. Philip Nolan said on Wednesday that we are close to suppressing the virus, but you won't see that mentioned on here. Instead we get some Dail Mail speculative rubbish.

I honestly can't understand the mentality of some on here. I guess it's a case of convincing yourself that the worst possible outcome is the most realistic one so that you won't be disappointed if the desired outcome doesn't transpire. There's probably a name for this sort of condition, but it's a sad reflection on what Covid has done to some, when they are permanently cyncial and afraid/unwilling to move on and look forward.

It's weird, we were worst, then 2nd, now we're 7th highest. People on here saying Romania and other eastern European countries had much much lower rates weeks ago. Amazing how things can change.

On Ireland/Portugal.... It's interesting. Our 7 day average of cases vs Portugal is 226 v 66, yet those in hospital is 64 v 34. So we have 4x time the cases as Portugal but only 2x the number in hospital. It makes making comparisons hard. It's really not a like for like comparasion.

The positivity rate does not support your hypothesis/rant.

This post does nothing to disprove my hypothesis either.

Why vaccinated adults are running to a test centre at the first sign of a runny nose is beyond me. Take a lemsip and stay in bed for a couple of days if you need to.

This mass testing malarkey needs to be reigned in. It's costing a fortune and has absolutely no benefit anymore.

Your recollection of a&e pre covid and mine differ greatly

I can confirm that my ear is burnt from hearing about people I know running off for tests, and guilt tripping all around them to be going for tests.

None of them are ever sick either.

Appears to me we may be seeing the very early stages of another surge. Cases, hospitalisations and ICU occupancy have all significantly increased over the last few days.

The coming winter is beginning to look grim.

Anyone else get this sinking feeling that October 22nd freedoms will be short lived ? Are we really to expect cases and hospitalisations will remain stable in the depths of winter . It’s only early October and they are already starting to rise . It will only get worse surely? I will be delighted but also pretty surprised if they don’t reimpose the restrictions that are being relaxed on October 22nd at some stage over the winter . Would make you wonder why the hell we haven’t had normality the last 6 weeks at a more favourable time of the year . Hopefully I’m wrong and they hold their nerve when things get challenging again

Surely there won’t be another lockdown? Most people are double vaxxed? I thought the point of the vaccines were that you’d still get Covid but wouldn’t get that sick from it?

Nothing would surprise me at this stage.

And I'm not sure that there would be much organised backlash either. Too many Irish people are concerned with appearing to be right on to challenge anything..

I stress appearing.

That's unfortunately not true.

In general terms yes, if you are vaccinated then you have a much better chance of having a less severe dose, and the vast majority by far of those who are entering ICU are not vaccinated. Some people though are still getting very sick, even with the two jabs. I have a friend who caught it (30s) and he was in a really bad way, but far the roughest time he has been through with any illness. It is also the case also that quite a number of vaccinated people are getting ill to the point that they need to be hospitalized. They do tend to recover though to the point at least that they do not require ICU admission.

In my opinion we should definitely lock down tomorrow in order to prevent another lockdown, I'm getting reports that bodies are piling up on the street and I hear the army might be drafted in aswell. Hold firm.