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

Austrian parliament is expecting to pass mandatory vaccinations from February.

Spain leading calls to treat covid as the flu, and to finally class the virus as an endemic.

Have to agree with the Spanish here, until we declare it as an endemic then governments will always have an excuse.

What time are the leaks due at ?

It was quite clear from a long time back that government are covering their own asses by deferring to the public health team- it's like a vaccine for themselves against any criticism down the line or a deeper investigation into how the pandemic has been handled. When the bones are being picked on this we will hear one term over and over- 'That was the public health advice at the time'.

Say what you like about Boris and the UK but when the new variant was discovered and they decided to reintroduce some restrictions like masks on kids in schools, they said they would not be in place for a day longer than necessary, they stuck to their word. I have more respect for that than our lot.

We so lack real leadership in this country. I think a pivotal moment was when Leo challenged NPHET and said none of them would lose wages because of lockdown- he was rebuked and his and the attitude of others changed to a very accepting one as regards all of NPHET's advice since then.

I'm hopeful that any announcement tomorrow will exceed expectations as I feel they need to start getting back on side with large portions of society and really justification for ALL restrictions has expired.

How is a late license relevant? Standard pub license allows serving until 12.30 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Has done for 20 years.

Just on the pointless masks. I think people will just have to grow a pair and just ignore the nonsense. Was in Costa this morning. Got my coffee masked sat down for an hour unmasked and watched people do the same before standing up to walk 10 yards to the door fully masked agin. It’s absolutely bonkers makes no sense at all. People are just going to have to say enough and start flouting this stupidity.

Can we safely accept that the restrictions that we endured in Q1 and Q2 (and even parts of Q3) in 2021 were a waste of time and contributed to a few mental health issues

I know the vaccine rollout was taking place then but it was slow enough

They've been covering their arses since their initial response two years ago which saw them put covid positive patients in care homes. 30 wrongful death suits and counting. There could well be criminal liability for what happened, although the usual "public policy grounds" defence will be trotted out. At the very least there is a very costly and very damaging tribunal coming down the line.

Never, because the virtuous rule abiders wouldn't accept that, they want their medals preserved

Sorry I clarified Sunday above. Are you saying pubs didn't get longer on a Sunday and had to close at old Sunday time anyway?

Yeah just saw your edit. So 12 only effected Fri and sat as Mon thru Thurs worked out the same. And I thought they got longer sun, but maybe not.

Would be silly to start it again imo. Instead just go back to normal hours.

It has all been to make up for the absolute cock up made at the start especially when the moved the patients from the hospitals into nursing homes without testing them to see if they had covid first, after they had told Nursing homes that every patient would be tested before being transferred. There are few people who will be keeping their heads down about that if there is ever, and I hope there is, an investigation into it and anyone involved it that should lose their jobs and pensions.

Yep true colours will show and that is 'NPHET don't like the Hospitality industry'

It's all getting exciting again isn't it, what time is the spineless wonder coming down the steps to make his big speech ?

I got a good feeling about this one you know !