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

That won't happen. Even in the case where the situation deteriorates to that level there are lots of mitigations that could be put in place before they would need to close schools. I don't see schools ever closing again.

I wouldn't be a bit confident that there'll be much of an improvement due to yesterday's developments.

I would say most office workers are at home for much of the week already, so moving to remote work isn't as big a move as it once was. Closing pubs at 12 is unlikely to help much either, people can go out earlier or have house parties.

Unfortunately I think there is a need for at least a short lockdown, including closing schools again. I doubt there's the political will for it though.

The communication by NPHET and Government over the last ten days has been very poor, practically incoherent. Advising people to socialise half as much was completely farcical, for some people that'd mean going to night clubs twice a week instead of four times and for others it'd mean going to mass every second week.

Between that and claiming that schools are quite safe, the State are losing the support of the public, which had been very strong. People are being treated like they're quite stupid.

What lockdown is that Micky? Because you have constantly said there will not be another lockdown and called people hysterical and whiners for suggesting there would be. "Lockdown merchants", isn't that what you called them?

With the hysteria at the moment, anything can happen.

Irish people's instincts is to be conservative.

With a reminder that this is a government that explicitly stated that we were staying in Europes longest lockdown so that when they did finally reopen that they would never have to row back on it.

The old lockdown to avoid lockdown strategy that worked so well.

I agree with this. I feel if we can get into next year with boosters etc we should see a better outcome. God people are unbelievable though. Ohhh the government told me the vaccine would work. Like children some people. Do people need to be led by the hand 24/7. Were adults. The vaccines do work but they were never going to eliminate it straight away. We will probably need 1 or 2 jabs a year to keep this at bay until hopefully it eventually fades out. Its spreading because in the main people are going out and doing what they feel like. Well guess what that's not possible right now. Its not possible without consequences anyway. Some people all they do is moan and moan. here is an idea maybe try and change your behaviour and we might be in a better position. Children a lot of people.

On days like today it is important to remember that this nightmare is not permanent. Booster shots, the Merck/Pfizer antivirals and (to a lesser extent) vitamin D will bring us to the other side of this, probably by 2023 or if we are lucky, maybe 2022. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how distant it is from today.

Persevere, act with diligence, take each day one at a time. We’ll get through this in time.

You say do people need to be led by the hand 24/7 ???

No they don't so u should be incharge of your own health & if you feel your not healthy enough then go ahead an isolate & let the other get on with there life's or do you WANT us to be led by the hand 24/7

Can you imagine people going out & socializing the absolute cheek of them ,

Think of what your saying they shouldn't go to places or else we won't be able to go to places ,

Maybe change your own behaviour if your worried & let others worry about themselves , Children a lot of people ,

True to an extent but people largely get their information from those messages and got vaccinated in huge numbers. Nine months on that message looks premature and the spectre of restrictions returning is very frustrating to many. The knock-on effect of that is more resistance to boosters. It doesn't help that the messaging is now all over the place, which weakens any force it might have. I'd rather they stopped this not ruling things out nonsense and produced a list of areas that might be affected if we have to go further.

Calling people names or sneering at them tends not to be an effective strategy for anything!

Oh, ok. When you were calling people lockdown merchants, the lockdown brigade, saying that people wanted lockdowns because they were whiners and hysterical, that was all just what if scenarios. Got it.

I only mention it because memory seems to be a problem in these threads. People get things badly wrong but instead of learning from it, when the next development comes along they ignore the past and act exactly the same. Like sneering at people who suggested lockdowns are a possibility while living in a country where in actual fact, lockdowns are a very real possibility.

No matter, I hope you enjoy your new life in the USA, it is after all the land of opportunity.

44% of journal readers who always seem a bit mad for the auld restrictions ( if the comment section is anything to go by).

These comments and the language throughout this is unsettling

Your addressing people here who have endured the globes longest lockdowns since March 2020

Of course the irony is that the number 1 risk factor for severe illness from Covid is obesity, an illness caused by lifestyle choices

I forgot to add to my earlier message about yesterday's measures, nothing said about ventilation.

Have we lost the messaging about ventilation?

In the past week I've seen buses pass me by and windows closed, taxis pass me by with passengers masked up and windows closed. An ambulance passed me yesterday and two drivers both masked up and windows closed. Was in a small chemist and door completely shut as well and it could have been easily propped open to let fresh air in.