Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm' • Hacker News Board

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#11

Post by ptero » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:29 PM UTC

OliverM wrote: post #5

They are expecting a spike in infections as a result, and the rules around self-isolation on positive tests and wearing masks in most contexts remain. But Ireland has had one of the longest lockdowns in Europe, and one of the best vaccination rates. Both have paid off, but not without cost.

It is not clear to me that low incremental death rates are due to lockdowns (or, for that matter vaccination rates). Balkans had low rates with no lockdowns (and vaccination rates of under 35% throughout last summer).

I am not claiming that your statement is wrong, just that the causal relationship is not at all clear to me. It is probably much easier to show for vax rates, but lockdowns -- I have not seen a convincing proof.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#12

Post by emteycz » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:30 PM UTC

synquid wrote: post #8

zapdrive wrote: post #3

Great! Other countries need to follow suit. We have to learn to live with this disease, like the gazillion others.

I wish that people who say things like "learn to live with it" actually meant it. We do indeed need to learn from the past two years, and that will result in something quite different from pretending that we're still in 2019.

I'm quite sure it will be much more like 2019 than you think. People will learn to live with the deaths if it continues as it was in 2020/21. Prolong the lock downs more and most of the population will go crazy.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#13

Post by CPLX » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:30 PM UTC

This seems like good progress but not sure the headline is consistent with reality. You’re still required to wear a mask 100% of the time while in stores for example.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#14

Post by ZanyProgrammer » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:30 PM UTC

zapdrive wrote: post #3

Great! Other countries need to follow suit. We have to learn to live with this disease, like the gazillion others.

Have fun going to the ER for something non COVID related!

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#15

Post by ZanyProgrammer » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

emteycz wrote: post #12

synquid wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish that people who say things like "learn to live with it" actually meant it. We do indeed need to learn from the past two years, and that will result in something quite different from pretending that we're still in 2019.

I'm quite sure it will be much more like 2019 than you think. People will learn to live with the deaths if it continues as it was in 2020/21. Prolong the lock downs more and most of the population will go crazy.

Lol find me one place in the United States where there are “lockdowns”.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#16

Post by andybak » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

smitty1e wrote: post #9

iakov wrote: post #2

This is refreshing to hear. Hope other countries will follow and we’ll start returning to normal.

We may get close to normal, but a horrifying precedent has been set. I hope for thorough consideration of the totality of the evidence by voters and some careful thought regarding the last two years.

Most of us have been giving it careful thought all along. Something about your phrasing suggests to me that your views are outside the mainstream? (In which direction I don't know because you seem cagey about actually stating your view)

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#17

Post by KnobbleMcKnees » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

zapdrive wrote: post #3

Great! Other countries need to follow suit. We have to learn to live with this disease, like the gazillion others.

95% of their adult population are double vaccinated. In that sense, yes I agree, other countries should follow their lead.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#18

Post by kilroy123 » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

iakov wrote: post #2

This is refreshing to hear. Hope other countries will follow and we’ll start returning to normal.

Here in London people seem to have largely stop caring. Many have already been vaxed and got COVID. (I have)

Lot's of people are ignoring the mask mandates and going with out a mask, even on the public transportation.

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#19

Post by iso1210 » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:32 PM UTC

iakov wrote: post #2

This is refreshing to hear. Hope other countries will follow and we’ll start returning to normal.

UK is pretty much doing it, Especially England. The Omicron peak is over, hospitalisations never reached the numbers feared, indeed there were more people who tested positive that were hospitalised for other reasons -- something miles away from reality in earlier waves.

In this wave, case:hospitalisation ratio about 1:80. Last year it was about 1:13

Re: Ireland drops most Covid restrictions in wake of 'Omicron storm'

#20

Post by drclau » Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 1:32 PM UTC

Strange timing, with Omicron going through the population like wildfire. Maybe they are accepting they can’t fight Omicron?

In any case, this experiment will inform other countries on how to proceed further. I sincerely hope the results will be good, both for Ireland and the rest of the world.

If you want to follow the Covid data for Ireland, here’s the official site:

https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/