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

While I'd love mass non-compliance of ridiculous restrictions when it reaches a point of there being zero need for them. I'd even argue the 8PM closing should have never been in effect. I'd wonder if there is an insurance risk if something was to happen after 8PM when legislation says they shouldn't be open. Insurance companies are another set of weasals who try to shy away from responsibilities.

Its a threat, but almost never comes to pass.

Even the worst holes of pubs in this country full of fights and drugs etc still get their license renewed despite the gardais opposition.

Very unlikely that a judge would revoke one based on covid rule breaches.

People just don’t care. I have friends and family who I would previously have considered to be compassionate, decent people who genuinely couldn’t give a toss about the people losing jobs cause they’re saving time and money working from home.

I find their indifference shocking but from their perspective, they now have a better quality of life and are happy relaxing at home with their partners.

If the cost is other people losing out financially, socially and emotionally they aren’t too bothered so long as they personally aren’t directly effected.

I have two friends who were at the very least a couple of years away from mortgage approval who are now home owners thanks to their expenses reducing so much due to the lockdowns. They’d be delighted if we went into another one - better chance of getting a tradesman to do a foxer for them below the market rate, they say.

It’s much easier to support these restrictions when you won’t be the one losing your job or wage. It’s easier to sacrifice someone else’s future rather than your own, I guess.

Until more of the comfortable WFH crowd are effected, this will continue.

I think there will be a lot of people ashamed of their actions in a few years time when they see how they directly benefited from other peoples lives and futures being destroyed.

You'll probably have some middle aged lad who works from home telling you that there are barely any restrictions and some anal, pettiness about saying society is closed.

The Irish government will look to follow whoever is the most strict in terms of restrictions.

Its not about evidence, or favouring one country over another, just about being cowardly and trying to justify it.

The UK are the model they will look at here especially as it appears we've passed the peak and our cases look to be taking a tumble. There may be something to be said for being so close to them and importing all that Omicron! It's hard to say how those currently enforcing vaccinations will deal with the summer tourist season. Right now other countries are looking like a much better place to book.

Right now probability of dying from Omicron is 50 times lower than dying from flu. There are no medical reasons fir anybody who is not vaccinated to go and get the jab, especially kids. There is also no medical reasons for which all of current restrictions should continue on. Not to mention fabulous ideas for mandatory vaccinations.

The reason why people are still getting vaccinated and why restrictions will continue to be in place is political and commercial. As the saying goes “never waste a good crisis” and so what we are experiencing is not going to end anytime soon. If this was all for medical and health reasons we would be opening up tomorrow.

The UK do the same things as us, pubs, social activities etc. and are a few weeks ahead so they are a useful indicator of the progress of Omicron, far more than the surging cases elsewhere in the EU. The only things we have really copied from the EU are the certs and our fairly daft curfew idea. Our cases are on the way down, quite quickly perhaps so that plays into tracking the UK more. Hospitals have peaked at 1,000 so the health system is saved for another winter!

Does anyone have any information on how the latest Omicron forecast modelling scenarios in December by Philip Nolan has played out versus actual real life data?

Surely if we know how Omicron has played out (in terms of cases being massively high but the actual effect on people has been just a really sore throat for the vast majority), is there any scenarios being created to show how this relatively positive news can play out on our hospitals and population and get us back to pre pandemic normality? Or is that too optimistic or positive?

Again, surely if we know the effects are minimal to the vast majority of the population, why is there little to no 'real' noise about opening up society properly and simply getting on with it?

Fatigue?

Absolutely bonkers. Macron is trenching down for the long term with this nonsense. Vaccine passports are not going anywhere for at least a few years.

Good luck with their tourism industry, especially from the UK and US who will be moving on from it. Not getting a booster every 4 months.

This is why he will be pushing the EU to standardise this around the states. He won't want any outliers. Tourism is one of their biggest industries and there are a lot of people around the world that have been itching to go on holiday.