To Mask or not to two - Mask Megathread cont.

It's a thread discussing masks. If it's a thread about those topics then I will give my opinion on it.

Eating a fast food meal or overindulging doesn't put other people at risk - drink driving or smoking in pubs and workplaces etc does. So yes I would have advocated for people to have such choices taken away from them, because they are making a choice not just for themselves. They are in the 'public sphere'.

This is the strange thing really.

If people are as concerned as the polls/media are suggesting, we should be seeing a lot more people wearing masks voluntarily, right?

But as you say, the reality is that very few people are.

Something doesn't add up!

In reality of course, the problem is (as it always is) our grossly mismanaged health service and it's inability to deal with even a moderate increase in demand despite getting over 20 billion EUR annually. Of course having 5000 staff out "isolating" won't help!

The coverage in the last few days is like a a massive case of PTSD on a national scale.

More hysteria and lashing out. What is it with mask advocates that they can't debate in a reasonable manner?

Again.. wear your mask if you feel better and safer. No-one will stop you. But not everyone feels the same level of risk/concern/fear/whatever over Covid as you/some do and nor can you expect them to when the reality is that for the overwhelming majority of them, Covid (particularly omicron) is no more dangerous or inconvenient than a flu.

You may continue to rail against this, but that's the reality.

This is just reductive nonsense.

Also it isn't just an opposing view you have. You're demanding to have masks mandated on other people and it's strange behaviour especially when the medical experts who advise the government see no need for it. Do you not believe the experts on this or is it that you just don't want to listen because what they're saying no longer aligns with your own thinking? I bet you thought they were great when they were advising mask mandates.

That's very true too. How many posts have there been on this forum in the last 2 years telling people to "listen to the experts", "follow the science" etc...

Now that those same experts and science are saying restrictions are no longer needed, suddenly they're not good enough?

Hmm....

Not seeing that at all. Went to work yesterday on the train, around 30% max on the train had a mask. In the office it was 0% and on the way home in the supermarket maybe 10-15%. No way are the majority out there still wearing masks.

"The science" hasn't change, that remains constant. It's the advice that is fluid.

Saying the majority of people are going around wearing masks is simply wrong but I'll leave you to it.

I'll defend Boggles here (not something I've done before!), I'm in West Cork and mask wearing is definitely at least 50/50 in supermarkets with a smattering of people still wearing them outside or I've even started to notice idiots wearing them on their own in a car again!

Leave them at it. You don't know anyone's circumstances, they could be still be testing positive on Antigens and out of isolation, they could be vulnerable, they might just be afraid to get it.

You make an assumption about people you know nothing about and assume they are idiots. Have you considered that maybe the people in the cars have not had a chance to clean their hands yet? maybe they just had someone in the car? maybe they will be going somewhere else and it's easier to just leave the mask on?

The idiots are the ones making stupid assumptions.

Not really.

That was down to HSE advice, masks were optional when driver was behind a screeen.

Union did what was right, protected their workers as best they could.

Just back from the shopping myself with a stop in the garage and butcher as well.

Dunnes.. about 50% masked up I'd say

Anywhere else.. maybe 10%

Maybe it's a Dunnes thing!

It's not an argument, it's happening

THE Dáil bar is to become the first hospitality venue in the country reimpose restrictions on visitor numbers, the Irish Independent can reveal.

Guests attending the venue inside the Leinster House complex will also be required to wear a mask despite face coverings not being mandatory anymore.

In a memo to TDs today, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl said it was necessary to take “additional” safety measures due to the increase in Covid 19 cases both in wider society and within the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The restrictions will be in place until at least Easter so “that we can continue deliver essential services”.

In the memo, seen by the Irish Independent, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said: “We strongly advise and request everyone to resume wearing a mask in Leinster House to protect each other from this highly transmissible airborne variant. This includes in the Dáil chamber and Committee rooms.”

In relation to the Members’ Restaurant and Dáil Bar, he said that group numbers will now be limited to 20 people who must wear masks.

Patrons are to “wear a mask in the Leinster House Complex unless alone or eating”.