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

Complete lockdown required. No mixed messages.

Talk about hysteria and panic-mongering!

Let's (once again!) try and face facts here:

• The virus is not significantly dangerous to the vast majority of people in this country thanks to our lower age profile for one. We knew this last year when it became clear that those at potential significant risk are the elderly or infirm, and those with underlying medical issues and immunocompromised.
• The overwhelming majority of people have been double, or even triple vaccinated (in an increasing number of cases) at this point
• CASES mean nothing. The OUTCOME of those cases is what matters and the outcome in the overwhelming majority of instances is positive with little to no lasting effects being experienced. Of course there will be some who unfortunately do have after-effects, just as there are those who don't even realise they have/had it without a test. The way "cases" are defined is suspect anyway, as are the hospital metrics - ie: are they in hospital BECAUSE of Covid, or do they happen to have it as well? Did they contract it in hospital is another interesting one!
• Kids (who the blame has now shifted to) are at even LESS risk than the above (again, outliers will exist)
• We cannot prevent death. People are still dying from a myriad of other reasons every week (arguably/potentially in greater numbers because of the diversion of resources to protecting a small minority from potential illness in Covid). It's sad and it's unfortunate, but there is no road to immortality here.
• The ONLY thing we are protecting at this point is an inadequate, hugely wasteful and mismanaged health service and those overseeing it. Despite almost unlimited funds being thrown at this in the last year (and at least 20 BILLION annually before that), the same cries of teetering on the brink of collapse are doing the rounds AGAIN this year - as they do EVERY year for the past several decades!

The reason this continues is...

• a weak Taoiseach who won't be running again (I'd imagine) and who had no plan or agenda besides his own of not being the only FF leader not to have the job,
• a control freak and bully as CMO (you only have to watch the responses to questions in press interviews he shouldn't be giving in the first place to witness that, and he probably shouldn't be in the position anyway given his historical performance),
• a population that is generally docile and servile anyway, and which actively attacks anyone who DOESN'T just go along and keep the head down. Small wonder then we've repeatedly handed over control of the place to others - after the English were expelled, we gave it to the Catholic Church, then to the EU, and now to NPHET

There is no reason to be masking kids in school

There is no reason for renewed restrictions for the entire population. If we want to target an approach, focus on those who need it (as defined above)

There is no value in trying to show how compliant and on-message you are and attacking those who don't feel as nervous/concerned as you do. By all means be careful - limit your interactions, work from home, don't socialise, shop online etc, but you can't force a majority who are at little to no risk to feel the same as you do

There is no reason or justification to be further curtailing people's rights and basic freedoms, their ability to work and socialise, and everything else that has been restricted or removed in the last 18 months. The threat simply isn't there to warrant the damage being done to our society and economy, and yes these things matter hugely - a country isn't a lab or petri dish, no matter what Tony and co might like to think!

It's time we grew up as a country generally, but it's certainly time we started living with this and putting our (NOT unlimited or cost-free) efforts and resources into supporting those who ACTUALLY need it, rather than trying to harass and belittle those who will get along just fine regardless.

Dail just voted to allow for Mandatory Hotel Quarantine if needed

As long as any lockdowns starts on Monday I have a wedding on Saturday

I'm baffled by the proof of PCR test 72 hours or Antigen Test 48 hours before arrival into Ireland. So I adhere to either, then go off on the piss, meet hundreds of people, attend a large conference or go to a concert, Match etc after doing either of the Tests , then head home, How the F**K does any health expert figure this makes any sense 🤔 there's absolutely no logic , what are they hoping this will achieve exactly 🤔

It's designed to put people off traveling due to the hassle and fear of getting stuck somewhere.

It doesn't make sense, that's the problem. You don't even need to go abroad to see that:

Go to a pub or restaurant. You must act like a plague carrier in the corridors or if going to the toilet, but you can happily sit for as long as you like among all the other unmasked people at your tables - I won't even get into the €9 meals they pushed before!

It's a nonsense exercise designed only to appease the nervous and fearful.

Presumably the same as last time - neighbours curtain-twitching and ringing the Gardai because John and Mary have a few people over.

😁😁

Even if he feels he needs to adopt some or all of the recommendations it is definitely an opportunity to show who is boss for a change.

Very good post and agree with the vast majority of it.

I try not to get too involved with the general debate (mainly because there isn't one), but get sucked in occasionally and find it far too frustrating to engage with consistently.