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

Last January was just like every other January I can remember, patients bursting out of the hospitals because they essentially close for two weeks over Christmas so everything backs up. Not a chance in hell though NIAC will actually address this. Much easier to essentially ruin thousands of businesses.

The quote is:

"The HSE has said it expects 1.5m booster vaccines in total to be administered by Christmas."

To me that says 1.5m total by christmas, if it was 2.7m by christmas I am sure they would have said that.

I think he meant NPHET, there's been a lot of talk about NIAC the last few days so understandable confusion

Oh. Maybe that's it.

The Irish Times this morning reporting that NPHET is expected to recommend yet more restrictions on Thursday. People queuing for hours to get boosted, large numbers of people reducing contacts (e.g. cancelled Christmas parties, etc.), hospitality functioning under restricted hours of closed and still more restrictions on the horizon! I guess it’s obvious now that even if the government doesn’t use the word “lockdown” that’s what we’ll have in practice if not in name by the time all is said and done.

Introducing travel restrictions on top of already bringing in negative tests for vaccinated people is unbelievable. Once again we have to be the leader in "treat your population like gormless idiots".

Hospitality curbs on top after we already introduced some and cabinet were briefed this week about 25000 businesses about to go to the wall, mostly hospitality shows FF don't give a **** about the economy once MM isn't forced to make a hard decision.

None of these restrictions worked in the past, they just cost us jobs and deferred the inevitable. Have we still no other tools in our armour than "ban fun"?

The last 21months have seen the most expensive arse-covering exercise in the history of the state.

10's of billions pissed away to protect our extremely well-remunerated 'leaders' from having to make any decisions or take any responsibility.

We will all be paying for this for decades to come.

The Irish Times are a disgrace. They should not put a headline like that on the front page claiming it came from "sources". This close to Christmas when we're already doing very well as a nation and enduring a level of restrictions.

Usual fear inducing tripe they've been spouting out now for too long. Newspapers and journalists are literally falling over themselves to bring us bad news and beat down any sense of positivity.

Print and broadcast media in general are an integral part of this cycle of covid doom.

Taoiseach was just asked any plans for restrictions, he said currently no,but he awaits nepht advise ,nepht meet on Thursday. So technically he isn't lying as not planning today but come Thursday there will be. Irish times also quoting sources, wasn't all of this meant to stop?

Media softening us up for more restrictions, so come Thursday we will just accept it

The correct flow should be…

NPHET ➡ Government ➡ Public

Not…

NPHET ➡ Reporter ➡ Public

The current flow is unhelpful, undermines the government and causes unnecessary concern. Just look at what this approach did to the hospitality business – it absolutely decimated it in advance of any actual advice being sanctioned!

If these restrictions come to pass without significant public backlash, then we are truly fcuked as a society. Lining up for boosters, curbing our social lives, cancelling parties, working from home, cutting contacts, all to protect a tiny, tiny minority of the population. Hospital numbers stable (some could argue actually decreasing), ICU numbers stable/decreasing, data from SA suggesting Omicron is but a head cold, yet we are rewarded with more restrictions. And what can they actually do now, bar put us in lockdown - effectively.

What happened to living with Covid? How about our slow, cautious, gradual reopening - so that we stay open and don't go backwards? Those words ring hollow now. I know it can be hard to make predictions in a pandemic, but at least have some courage and conviction. This constant deference to NPHET by our elected officials is bordering on undemocratic at this point.

Because their modelling is woeful and they don't know what they are doing . I jabbed twice ,will get my booster, but begining to think whats the point if we will always have restrictions