Originally Posted by
Nesta99
The modelling was presented to relevant people eg frontline staff management. Its stark stuff tbh. There is definitely an erring on the side of caution at the moment basically due to personal risk levels for front line staff (and id include teachers in that myself) if things start to really get out of control. There are currently in and around 40 high depednency beds nationwide, less in ICUs, but a reasonable amount of acute general capacity. If the modelling pans out and so far prep has been for worst case scenario that picture changes in weeks. Worst case is equally as likely as best case so what has happened is basically a gamble by Cabinet.
Understandable by Govt as poorly handled by NPHET going public but they probably suspected the kickback. Members of Cabinet have also been poor in undermining NPHET publically also. It will be tough to regain credibility and hence compliance from the public if the NPHET 'not thought through' angle is pushed.
One of the main considerations for NPHET is the kicking the can down the road issue in hope that things change for the better - at a time when public fatigue for any restriction is growing and so a real risk of losing a grip on things without a kick in the aras.
Personal opinion here but based on the figures and the general behaviour of sections of the public, but the situation will deteriorate and it is very possible that Level 5 restrictions have to happen anyway. The choice would be to do so now to mitigate against spread, as tough and irritating as that would be, or we end up doing it at the much more important period over the Christmas season - completely banjaxing a whack load more of businesses, and risk the most vulnerable due the normal family visits not being possible; Social isolation that will be felt more acutely over this time, the seasonal stresses on hospital capacity that happen every year will be exacerbated (sadly many people become 'ill' over Christmas and New Year to not be isolated and alone and get admitted to hospital), maybe there will be less drink related admissions (accidental injury, domestic violence, social distrubances) but I doubt it unless off licence sales are restricted....yeah right, if we want a national riot on our hands!! I know this isnt LoI stuff directly but whatever, it's a short-sighted sticking plaster unless there is a sneakier agenda to ramp things up over a period of time. Again an underatanadable stance but would lead to a longer and more damaging impact also.
Thanks for this as it made me laugh and a lighter mood was needed - once back in flipping 1702 or somthing like that my Dad felt a bit queasy after ordering chicken out (nothing to do with the couple of beers), ever since he will only touch chicken if it is cremated but nuked is a far better description!!
As per above, I think the politicians have done the opposite of showing balls, and have actually bottled making the difficult but most prudent course of action. We should be able to creat a covid free island bubble, if the will is there to achieve it. Not possible with sketchy contract tracing, not improving border control, including the impact of the Brits on NI, and an increasingly complacent public - partiularly among the younger demographics.
Fooking infuriating to see. GAA should have known better considering they had to erect perspex barriers at Hill 16 years ago to stop the pitch invasion issue. Funnily enough it was after Armagh fans ignored the appeals and broke through stewards trying to prevent them entering the pitch. Seeing Blackrock hurlers in Cork walking down the street with all those fans was a disgrace. The reaction for the GAA has been top notch after though, by cancelling ALL activity after this behaviour, including potentially not holding All Ireland competitions as a result. Thats a serious slap on the wrist for the clubs that ignored advice and they wont be looked favourably on by other who did what they were supposed to do and will miss out. There are plenty of stories of positive Covid tests being hidden - but with proper Govt tracing these people and contacts should have been isolating so the clubs knew they could hide anything that could mean forfeiting games.
Apologies of any of this simply sounds like a misery rant, I promise none of it has to do with wanting Rovers title derailed! After all, that would also see Cork not being relegated and that would be fun simply to get a Cork colleague for back the Nov-Feb slagging in 2017 - bitter an twisted in my old age, as its not so nice to want anyone relegated but that was the longest close season ever and must be avenged!