Now that Covid is over why doesn't someone officially call it ?

It's still a drain on public funds, money that could be spent better would be one.

Do we still have people isolating and losing days at work? If so that would be another.

As I said, bizarre.

It is bizarre alright that you are still stuck in covid forums unable to move on, while acussing others of being the oddball.

I think for the vast majority of people in Ireland it wouldn't make a difference in a daily basis outside of having to isolate, as the restrictions are pretty much lifted here.

I'm sure if the WHO came out tomorrow call 'officially declared it over' it would end the recovery certs and vaccination certs for travelling. There are also a lot of countries that still require vaccination certs for entry into indoor events. Even in some colleges in the US require you to be fully vaccinated. It would probably put an end to the mask mandates worldwide too.

Personally i couldn’t care less whether the pandemic is declared over or not. I can do the things i did back in 2019. So how do you define over? Is it over because life is normal or because the virus is still around? Of course i do all the simple basic precautions.

i think it will be unlikely that restrictions will return especially when they were all lifted when cases were rampant and hospitals were at nearly 1700.

The threshold for restrictions is now quite high.

I was on a flight to NY with Aerlingus last Saturday. Masks had to be worn on flight unless you were eating or drinking.

Ah, yeah. If you're "snotting your face out and sneezing all over the place", then you're better off not going into a packed place. But that's common courtesy rather than a law. So what's the problem? Randomly making 'declarations' of covid being over isn't a solution to anything you've said there.

Wouldn't you just wait and see if it's actually over before making any declarations?

I wish it would be declared over because it’s making life hell for a relative of mine in a nursing home in the uk. They are still being locked down, mostly due to staff testing positive. When they lock down the 2 floors are not allowed to mix, and he’s upstairs, so he loses access to the dining room and common areas. So basically locked in his bedroom for yet another week, with no visitors allowed. He’s so depressed at this stage, it needs to be stopped.

Oh sh1t you're right. Now I feel like I should go to a public gathering when I'm "snotting your face out and sneezing all over the place", as another poster put it.

Thanks Goldengirl. I guess next winter is going to be fine now what someone declared it over. Why didn't we think of declaring it over in March 2020?

Would you consider declaring the war in Ukraine over too? It would be a big help to the poor divils over there.

I'm not fixated on it. I'm living life pretty much as normal bar doing a lateral flow if I'm sick (or my mrs is sick).

If winter stays like this then it's great. No point telling everyone it's over whenever don't know if it's over. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll continue living life as normal.

How many posters predicted last January that by March Irish people would be inviting unvaccinated strangers to take up residence in the spare rooms of their houses?

Sorry, just read the rest of that:

"From 6 March 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions are removed. You no longer need to complete a passenger locator form. You also no longer need proof of vaccination or recovery, or a COVID-19 test."

So this means nothing is needed? No cert, or no negative test needed?

Isn't smallpox the only virus that was ever eradicated? And that took 3000 years. So I think we have a long time yet until covid is over. A vaccine that will give sterilising immunity will help.

Think I should point out that I was responding to the OP's need for " someone to call it over " which I did !

Does not mean it is at all , of course , I do wholeheartedly agree , and while I believe the worst is over now in Ireland that we are mainly vaccinated and have some immunity , from severe illness , who knows what will happen in a few months time , regardless of whether somebody says its over or not .

Should have included some sort of tongue in cheek emoji, if there is one .../p ?

Not quite, it still exists in labs. Russia supposed has large stocks of weaponised smallpox. There’s a lovely thought.