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

I was listening to the radio today and a vox pop was on with people on their thoughts on the impending relaxation of the remaining restrictions. One woman said it would be great, because she would finally be able to see her sister. That's what I'm talking about - there was no guidance, and nothing like that for months, that said you couldn't see family.

Equally here you had people exaggerating the impact of the current restrictions, acting as if they were a major imposition and curtailment of liberty when they weren't. Closing pubs and restaurants early was not a huge ask of society.

It's your last line there that I tend to agree with though. As we came out of the more severe restrictions (the ones that were far more impactful than pubs closing early), there wasn't this same sense of optimism online and in the media (one can't be completely sure if that also translates to the general population) that there is today. It is possibly the sense of relief that this is over that is what is most joyous, rather than joy at the specific restrictions that were lifted today.

In my quick drive through the city tonight, roughly half of pubs I passed decided to jump the gun on the longer hours. While they weren't thronged, they weren't quiet either.

Sorry to hear about your friend but............. 22 year old anti-vaxxer has died from covid it's ridiculous. What a waste of an unavoidable death of a 22 year old's life

Two years ago it all began on here:

new coronavirus outbreak China, Korea, USA - mod warnings in OP (updated 24/02/20) — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

The impact of restrictions are relative though. Just because the most recent ones haven't affected your life too much, doesn't mean this isn't huge for other people. For instance, I can finally go back to work now after 22 months of being on the PUP... so that's a pretty big deal to me anyway! Thousands of people are in the same boat as me and plenty have had it much worse so a bit of perspective is needed.

Well I got fed up of masks last March but have continued to wear them where necessary.

I didn't find the last two years very difficult. I've been through tough times before, times when I and many others didn't have much money and no choice but to stay at home.

I think the majority of those who were constantly moaning and giving out are younger people who have never experienced hard times in their lives.

Hopefully the move in the UK works out and we can all move forward soon to a mask free society.

I've been talking to some people who I think are going to take a long time to get back to normal though. Of the people I've been talking to I'd say something like three in twenty are not happy about the removal of restrictions. They are still very afraid of catching the virus. I don't watch Irish media but it appears RTE and their coverage all through the pandemic are responsible for a lot of these people being so nervous.

Apparently the government have a major lockdown prepared for mid April

Do you ever do anything but criticise other posters?

That will remain as one of the pandemic mysteries and not to be questioned

I'm not saying that the reopening of hospitality is not a big deal for those that work in it. It absolutely is, and tomorrow will be a huge day for them. What I am saying though is that for society generally, the reopening of hospitality fully was the last small step to normality, but that the more impactful restrictions, when they were eased were not met with as much fanfare. For the country, the dropping of the 5km limit and the restoration of intercounty travel were far more significant relaxations than the extension of hospitality hours and restarting of events.

Maybe in psychological terms,the idea of nearly no restrictions remaining is huge. If you look at it in real terms however, what has actually changed, for the country generally, it isn't.

Maybe a Governement of some sort that could make decisions based on advice received from a team of public health experts? 🤔

Stay at home, stay safe and don't forget to hold firm

Yet cases in hospital fell. What does that tell you?

It’s all a bit surreal today, fantastic but surreal.

Unfortunately for a lot of people this isn’t going to be easy. I personally know of a lot of people and a lot of them older who will still be in fear this morning and even more so, confused, how can 2 years of fear and warnings just end like that.

And for me the blame for that doesn’t lie with NPHET or the government it lies solely to blame with the toxic media and cowardly journalists/presenters/social media personalities who allied themselves with ISAAG loons to exploit to the fullest the fear, concerns and trepidations of people to further their own agendas and will now just like that, move on.

We all know them, we all have listened and seen them spout fear for 2 years, they literally preyed on people for the last 2 years to further their own personal gains, divided family and friends and literally preyed on the most vulnerable to manipulate them for their own gain.

Everyone at one stage raged against government and NPHET for mistakes they made but mistakes they were, the actions of others was very very deliberate and personally I won’t be forgetting them and I urge all others to do the same.