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

This idea that no country had a proper pandemic plan is revisionist nonsense that needs to die right now.

Every developed country has entire departments dedicated to pandemic planning. There are global league tables of preparedness. There is an entire academic field with an entire body of literature dedicated to pandemic management. There are semi-regular "war games" based on pandemics.

The truth is that none of those plans were invoked because the people whose job it is to keep calm and lead, panicked. They got scared by Chinese propaganda, terrified by completely normal footage out of Italian ICUs, and browbeaten by a media desperate for a big story and a public whipped up by same. As Neil Ferguson, infamous for his shít-tier hysterical modelling in the UK, said: once Italy broke and followed the lead of authoritarian, genocidal hellhole China into lockdown, "we realised we could get away with it". And just to make sure they could, "behavioural scientists" were brought in to advise the government on how best to scare the bejesus out of people enough that the remaining sane few would be abhorred for noncompliance. Which they did so effectively that the UK government, at least, has since apologised.

And from then on, that's all it was. It didn't matter that most of the restrictions were ineffective, it didn't matter that most of them did more harm than good, it didn't matter that the collateral damage was obviously going to outweigh the benefit of any lockdown. It mattered that the easiest—and in some cases the most lucrative—option for politicians, media companies and the Twitterati class, were overly-harsh, barely effective restrictions.

Some of the people from the aforementioned academic fields of virology and epidemiology adapted quickly, shifting away from the entire literature of their education and getting on board with the newly in vogue authoritarianism. Those who refused to were propagandised against until their names became mud and their formerly prestigious careers remained in tatters. And that didn't matter because in any case if you couldn't find an epidemiologist to tell you that the virus gets really nasty after 8pm and mask should-no-shouldn't-no-triple-should be worn, then there was always a nutritionist, or an architect, or a solicitor waiting in the wings with their hands out for a wad of cash and their fifteen minutes.

There were plenty of perfectly suitable pandemic plans in place, based on decades of research, inclusive of liberal values. What we lacked in the West—in almost every Western country, depressingly—was a leadership that was not wont to abrogate its responsibility to execute those plans.

And yes, when the total measure of the sickening collateral damage caused by these restrictions comes fully into light, and as the herd retreats from madness one by one, people should be held responsible to ensure it never happens again.

Close thread :D

So today marks the third day in a row of a drop in hospital cases and the 6th day in a row in which general cases dropped. This proves that waves of COVID will peak and decrease despite there being no restrictions. Proving that they are not needed

We have been v careful all thru the pandemic.. not had covid yet.. starting to feel we are in the minority.. but we have started socialising more.. went to a big event last week, twas fab - great to mingle with strangers again.. been to a pub, the theatre.. out for coffee.. have met a few new people.. such joy

I liked the down time that the pandemic brought about - would obv prefer if it hadn't taken a virus to bring that about though..

But now really enjoying meeting people again - sharing ideas.. in person.. I'm a real people's person.. long may it last..

I know the pandemic isn't over but I think we have to learn to live with it now.. I'm still being cautious to an extent - wearing mask in supermarket.. won't go to a night club just yet... but living more, none the less

Are they legally enforceable on Ryanair flights out of Dublin?

Yes because that's an EU mandate

It's a EU recommendation, it's not a mandate like the federal one in the US.

Many European airlines have dropped mandatory mask rules recently, including BA, Swiss, KLM, SAS, Norwegian, LOT, TUI, easyJet and Jet2. In most cases masks are still mandatory where they are required by the destination country. Norwegian don't require masks regardless of the country's rules so it's very much up to the interpretation of the airline currently. SAS only require masks to Italy on their European flights, despite other countries they fly to like Spain, France and Germany still mandating masks on public transport.

If its a recommendation, then you don't have to wear masks on Ryanair flights?

This was one of the effects of lockdown which was flagged at the time in the UK but ignored... I wonder if we will see a similar report here in ireland...can't be too dissimilar in outcomes..unless somebody knows something I don't.

Definitely worth it , wouldn't want to be labelled a granny killer by valuing the young people :rolleyes: or to keep on the right side of the highly strung media types that inhabit the media with worrying high frequency

the young and the youth ignored and will be left carrying the can as always.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-news-live-uk-latest-coronavirus-symptoms-nhs-vaccine-jab-five-to-11-year-olds-12579367

Only one of the current incumbents, FG, was in power, as we'd just had an election and no agreement had been reached.

Not a peep about Covid for the 2 hours I was listening to Drivetime on RTE this evening. One can only conclude that there is no more blood to be drawn from this particular stone. It's finally over!

RTE has clamped on to new pastures. Climate change, now we shouldn’t be flying or eating meat 🙄