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

I'm sure you're going to back up this very limited reflection with some actual evidence.

Again, I generally agree, but I don't think with George that he is looking after his old political friends - remember how his political career ended - more that he wouldn't be, ahem, the most intellectually rigorous in his assessment of info he receives, to be polite about it.

It's just such a pity that these kind of issues can't be teased out and discussed in the public discourse. Unfortunately anyone with any reservations about the motive(s) (profit) of the vaccine manufacturers are being shouted down and accused of being anti-vax morons.

There are very worrying developments currently taking place in our democracy and the increasing polarisation of society and media allows any reasoned dissent to be dismissed as propagated by uninformed conspiracy nuts.

I have no doubt that the blame will shift to the pubs who will be accused of not checking the covid certs and letting unvaccinated in to spread the virus. Lots of words will be written about those nasty pubs ruining christmas for everybody else.

Jasus, didn't know that. What do those powers entail? Presumably they don't have much of an impact on the daily lives of the public? As opposed to our restrictions, which definitely do.

There is work ongoing on repurposing of drugs but it was rightly acknowledged early on that vaccines were more urgent. A number of therapeutics have come about during this and there's a lot of work going on on antivirals. Merck already have one and Pfizer and others will follow. There is also research on a variety of different nasal sprays as well.

Yep

NPHET should be disbanded for reasons of sanity to the Irish people. Going to be constant doom and gloom

Before I would have accused you of a fearmonger, but given what has transpired over the last two weeks, it could actually be plausible. However, I don't think it will happen because, as docile as we are, I just don't believe that going backwards (particularly into lockdown) will be accepted by the public at all. I actually think the narrative in the media is even shifting towards the mismanagement of the health system - so putting the blame/pressure on the HSE, not Joe Public. Most people know this, they have done their part by complying with two lockdowns and getting vaccinated. I just don't see the general public, hell even the media, willingly accept another lockdown - regardless of circumstances. There are other policies such as bringing in the private hospitals to cope with the surge if needed.

I'm not accusing you of anything, but I think some on here are too quick to jump to lockdown theories. A lot of posters on here have been proved right, in that we did not relax all restrictions yesterday/Friday but, ultimately, we still did actually relax some - and that is progress. But some posters are still utterly convinced of a lockdown, even amidst further reopening of society. I can only imagine what would be said if we had paused or reintroduced restrictions yesterday. The vaccines are not as good as expected/hoped, but they are still extremely good nevertheless. This is not 2020 anymore, just because lockdowns have been used in the past does not mean they are normalised. In my opinion anyway. And, look, I have been proved wrong on here before. I'm an optimist at heart, and believed we would be fully open (apart from masks) by now. But, it would take a very very pessimistic and, frankly, unforeseen turn of events for a lockdown. No doubt the media will pick up on every unambiguous quote, throwaway comment, etc. to amplify the uncertainty and fear and hysteria, but despite all the doom and gloom, we are in a better place than earlier this year.

Do you have a source for this or is it an opinion?

Does one of these begin with an I? Level playing field for all of them; do a proper clinical trial, show that they actually work for COVID and you're away.

I wouldn't rule anything out either but hopefully the boosters prove you wrong and it doesn't happen. I'm thinking if the Over-60s are getting them from this week and it takes 3 weeks to get the majority of them then I'd expect the numbers to start falling in about 5 weeks time so unlikely to need a lockdown then... Only an opinion as well

nah, its only a repeat.

There must have been a weekend excursion to Waterford for the unvaccinated, local GP struggling on the news at 1, to explain a 99% vaccination rate in waterford, the highest in Ireland along with the highest incidence rate in Ireland 🤔

He did suggest amongst other possibilities Vacinne protection waning and a roll out boosters may be required.

THE NPHET briefing later will be fascinating albeit perhaps predictable.

Every expert, government politician out today with only one explanation for increased cases, we can guess what that is 🙄 infuriating nonsense.

Very true, one or two as part of many, many more cases being confirmed.🤔, its not just the south east either 🤔

It's fascinating that all we heard for the past 9 months were the latest vaccination milestones albeit figures all over the place depending on how a person viewed them, what I wonder will be the excuses when we reach 94,95,96 % etc etc etc