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

reuters.com

101–110 of 401 posts

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

#101
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 convinci…

Canada and the U.S. might be a better comparison (particularly prior to vaccination, since the US has a notably lower vaccination rate). Canada largely had stricter lockdowns than the US and had about a third of the death rate. The populations aren't identical but fairly comparable, and the most notable differences in 2020 were degree of restrictions, along with better support for people unable to work due to COVID i…

But they also would've had better mask compliance and vaccination rates, less obesity, and as a country they're more sparse.

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

#102
post #85

Many (I suspect most but I only follow a few) epidemiologists are saying there's no stopping Omicron. It's more contagious than measles - if you're in a room with somebody who has it, you're exposed barring a properly fitted N95 mask. All of us will be exposed by mid February. It's also many times less pathogenic than Delta, and it's a gift that nothing at present can outcompete it. I believe it's the version that wi…

Your second and third sentences are factually incorrect. Check microcovid.org for an activity-based risk assessment.

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

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because now there are no restrictions to speak of left and it can't go much worse. No ground for apocalyptic scenarios anymore. Also, it's entirely up to people themselves if they want to be protected or not: Omicron is so transmissive, it doesn't matter for transmission if people are vaccinated or not - whatever impact it has on transmission is of little consequence - everyone is going to get infected, anyway (maybe…

In order for that to be true, unvaccinated people should not be hospitalized.

In the U.S. (for the better or not) there are economic mechanisms that help making that the case...

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

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

This. The PT one annoys the F out of me... but otherwise I'm over it. On PT though, I don't understand how people can't just put a mask on. SE Asia learned from SARS 1 and kept it up out of common sense, but nope, that's too much to ask here. I'm triple vaxxed and had covid in December. I'm going to nightclubs, pubs, restaurants etc. because why not? Who knows what the next variants etc will bring, but really does fe…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1645842452

This might be helpful for your situation

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

#105
post #26

At this point, you’re either vaccinated, have been sick or are dead, so all good. With Omicron beating out Delta and not causing as many hospitalizations - sure, why not.

Am I fucking crazy for not knowing what's going on any more? US hospitalizations are at an all time high, 2000 people are still dying every day, and it feels like everybody is just okay with that now. What happened? I get that everybody is tired of it, I am too, but it feels like we wasted two years of everybody's life just the take the bullet anyway.

If you look at the UK which was probably hit earlier by Omicron, hospitalisations are nowhere all time high and decreasing [1] despite covid cases having blown up previous records [2].

[1] https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare

[2] https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases

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

#107
post #26

At this point, you’re either vaccinated, have been sick or are dead, so all good. With Omicron beating out Delta and not causing as many hospitalizations - sure, why not.

Am I fucking crazy for not knowing what's going on any more? US hospitalizations are at an all time high, 2000 people are still dying every day, and it feels like everybody is just okay with that now. What happened? I get that everybody is tired of it, I am too, but it feels like we wasted two years of everybody's life just the take the bullet anyway.

>US hospitalizations are at an all time high, 2000 people are still dying every day, and it feels like everybody is just okay with that now. What happened?

Imo the only thing that really matters is the hospitalization rate of the vaccinated. If it's near bad flu numbers, then there's no more concern

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

#108
post #85

Many (I suspect most but I only follow a few) epidemiologists are saying there's no stopping Omicron. It's more contagious than measles - if you're in a room with somebody who has it, you're exposed barring a properly fitted N95 mask. All of us will be exposed by mid February. It's also many times less pathogenic than Delta, and it's a gift that nothing at present can outcompete it. I believe it's the version that wi…

I don't think it is particularly inevitable. My youngest got it - was picked up on a lateral flow test on Christmas Eve, we had spent the day mucking about and gaming together, wrapping presents etc. None of the rest of the family tested positive to my surprise. Yes, she did isolate in her room over Christmas, poor kid.

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

#109
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is mostly unvaccinated people choosing to not get vaccinated, which people have lost patience for, and I cannot blame them.

Quoted post unavailable.

This is identical to saying "I'm just pissing in my corner of the pool" or "I'm just polluting my own land".

Unless you are staying home and getting food delivered?

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

#110
post #26

At this point, you’re either vaccinated, have been sick or are dead, so all good. With Omicron beating out Delta and not causing as many hospitalizations - sure, why not.

Am I fucking crazy for not knowing what's going on any more? US hospitalizations are at an all time high, 2000 people are still dying every day, and it feels like everybody is just okay with that now. What happened? I get that everybody is tired of it, I am too, but it feels like we wasted two years of everybody's life just the take the bullet anyway.

I don't think you're crazy or alone in thinking that way. As I said on my other comment, not only overall deaths but the frequent serious sequelae are concerning.
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