This video explains succinctly why mask mandates don't/won't work and why a lockdown is pointless at this point, as it simply delays the inevitable. COVID is now endemic, meaning cases will always occur regardless of vaccination rates, and behavioural fatigue will make people take risks because they simply want to live their lives, which is understandable.
We just have to accept the reality with this - COVID will continue to kill the vulnerable/elderly like a lot of diseases do, regardless of vaccination, which simply mitigates the risk substantially but doesn't eliminate it. You can't eliminate COVID.
Not sure that video is very genuinely indicative to be honest, my favorite was some English professor discussing behavioral factors in Ireland.
We've seen a rise from an average of 2k cases a day to peak of 3.800 last week and they dipped yesterday to 3100. Al restrictions were eased three weeks ago (which was stupid in my opinion), clubs etc & with summer - autumn and people moving inside in flu season, i think that rationally explains the increase, its definitely not a surge, we've 500 active Covid in Hospital, 70 odd in ICU and 80% are unvaccinated. I expect Xmas to be mess and subsequently expecting a surge in Jan, but comparatively we're as good or better then anyone in Europe.
We've a few factors that work against us proximity to the UK being one and the free travel area. In that sense because of the UK approach and high instance rate we will always be vulnerable. we also have a very young population and a high case rate between 5-12 year olds unvaccinated.
The breakdown of our infection profile is also interesting, the highest case instances increase here at the moment is from 5-12 year olds - essentially the unvaccinated. yesterday the Government implemented an antigen test programme in schools to mitigate.
Waterford is interesting in the sense, that it has consistently had the lowest rates in the state throughout the pandemic, while other areas were higher, i suspect because of that they dont have the boost of natural immunity post infection other areas might. Its also very picturesque and a big tourism county and shares a land border with four other counties, so there could be a migrating effect now that tourism is back open, that hasn't been there before now. Kerry has exactly the same profile historically and cases have jumped there too - another big tourism destination.
While there is a grain of truth in learning to be with Covid endemically, i wouldn't accept that the elderly and vulnerable will continue to die because of it and we can definitely mitigate with measures to help manage the impact. We've given our boosters, to over 70's are currently doing our over 60's and frontline workers, we've seen an incredible drop in case instances and deaths in these cohorts in the last week and its quite stark when you compare it to 5-12 years olds.
Secondly i also wouldn't accept the downplaying of our mitigation measures, we're still social distancing, mask mandates and have Passes to use hospitality all of these things, they are just sensible things to do to protect, children, older adults and society in general. They arent even an inconvenience. Its about how each coutry wants to deal with the endemic phase of the pandemic, its not all rush toward it with abandon nor is it all lock yourself away.
Anyway dose 3 for me this morning, i may have Pfizer logo on my forehead tomorrow morning.
just gonna have to work on keeping my weight gain down over the winter and hit it hard in the spring. That's as depressing as anything for me!
www.thejournal.ie