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GERMANY’S BIGGEST ROCK festival will resume after being disrupted by fears of a possible “terrorist threat” which have proved to be unfounded, the organisers said today.
Police told AFP searches at the three-day Rock am Ring, held near the southwestern city of Koblenz, were over.
Some 90,000 people are expected to attend the event, which continues tomorrow.
“After a series of intensive searches across the site the fears of an imminent danger were not confirmed,” the organisers said.
“The police gave the go-ahead” for the festival to restart, organisers said.
The festival was evacuated yesterday evening after Koblenz police said they were in possession of “concrete elements, in the light of which a possible terrorist threat cannot be ruled out”.
Manchester
Security for the festival had already been stepped up, with an additional 1,200 staff, in response to 22 May Manchester bombing which occurred after a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
Last year’s Rock am Ring programme was curtailed by violent storms in which dozens of people were injured by lightning.
The country remains on high alert after a jihadist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin on 19 December. Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, hijacked a truck, killed its Polish driver and ploughed the vehicle through the market, claiming 11 more lives and wounding dozens.
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This is utter bull. And it will not be adhered to. I live in Laois. We had no cases for 27 days until the found cases in a direct provision Centre. So they lock the county down for 2 weeks and 2 days. Not a chance. Out costal towns are full of yellow reg cars and the yanks are landing into out airports. If Martin thinks we will put up with this he has another thing coming. I use the contact tracing app. I wear a bloody mask. I avoid crowds. Enough is enough.
@Dave Connolly: You’ve nothing but complete sympathy from me with regards to Laois but there is a very, very low number of American Tourists around. Also, the vast, vast majority of yellow reg cars are coming from the six counties who have similar or better Covid figures than we do. I’m sceptical about whether a lockdown was necessary but the above is not a good comparison to use.
@Cian Nolan: I know the difference between a northern reg and an English one. The yobs covered in Man City tattoos in Tramore I witnessed last weekend are not from the North. They came over on the Ferry. I have friends in Kerry who are dealing with cars full of Americans on a daily basis. And I’m locked down. Do me a favor.
@Dave Connolly: if govt are messing up in one area, doesn’t mean we should all just give up.
.
Separately, it is ridiculous govt let these obvious high risk areas get so bad
@Dave Connolly: what’s the beach in laois?
@Dave Connolly: and it just goes to show how much damage can be done by a single individual.
The reason this is still ongoing is due to the anger, suspicion, conspiracy and ignorant.
The country should have had this death with, the government are not to blame.
The population are to blame, the advice is there and is being ignored because people don’t like it.
@Spailpeen Farrell: beach in the bog. Google it
@Philip King ⚡️: yes they are. The allowed meat processing plants work away with no testing despite evidence from other EU countries.
@Dave Connolly: Disgraceful behaviour from the government punishing and taking away the freedoms from the people of Offaly, Laois and Kildare who have sacrificed their jobs their social lives their time with family and loved ones because of the recklessness of big business.
@Dave Connolly: Once again, I’m not at all convinced that a lockdown was necessary so I do empathise. I really do. I work in tourism though. There simply aren’t the number of GB and US visitors here that is being made out to be. Not to say that there aren’t any or that they should be here at all, but it is a negligble amount.
@Dave Connolly: agree totally with you….dont put up with it….enough is enough
@Dave Connolly: now Dave I’ll let you in on what I know , there is ten cases in my town in laois 3 case were working in a shop run by my sister they were working for a week , now if the r number is 2 , day 1= 20 day 2 = 40 day 3 = 80 and so on do you understand that this would get out of control very quick ,
The big issue I have is that this was imported into the town even though we were all acting responsible, and we still got caught hopefully it can be contained ,this is the future until Covid-19 blows its course
@Dave Connolly: the government can’t check every workplace.
It’s the operator and/or employee/s.
The advice is there. Like I said it could have been a single individual who ignored the advice for reasons or was just unfortunate.
@Paddy Dunne: it’s not going to blow its course. I work in Data Science in healthcare. You don’t lock down 340k people to contain 200 cases. You track and trace and test test test. This is using a steam roller to crack a nut. It’s unjustified and unfair.
@Dave Connolly: strangely enough I too was in tramore last weekend, and had to face all that traffic, but didn’t see many yellow reg cars, in fact, the vast majority of cars from outside waterford/kilkenny were Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary and a massive quantity of Dublin registrations, with accents to match.
As to your assertions about locking down 340k for 200 cases, I’m glad you work in Data Science, because your understanding of Public Health protocols and best practice is ropey.
@Dave Connolly: how many yanks have landed here ?
@Cian Nolan: that’s rubbish our town in the north west is full of english cars and english accents. I doubt there all from ni !.
we had no cases for weeks until this week which incidentally coincides with mask wearing (mostly done wrong) which people means they dont need to social distance anymore.
@Dave Connolly: so sorry to get in the way of your rant with facts, but I live in killarney Town, and I can assure it is in no way whatsoever full of Americans on a daily basis…so I think your ‘friend’ is either made up or telling you porkies. I can tell you its jam packed with people from all over Ireland, who have no clue whatsoever what social disatancing is, so for once dont blame foreign travel , as we are responsible for this not international visitors. However, I know these facts are getting in the way of your narrative so you’ll dismiss them
@Dave Connolly: Agree! I was west last week and plenty of tourists from other countries many of whom are not adhering to guidelines. I too wear a mask in shops, carry hand sanitizer in pocket everywhere, avoid crowds and I’m very careful around our elders etc. I agreed with the initial lockdown as we didn’t know what we were dealing with and had to be extremely careful not to be caught out like Italy was. I live in Co. Kildare and this is going to be impossible. If they must bring back restrictions then perhaps within a certain radius of outbreak and not by county borders? It needs to be suppression, control, monitor and carefulness.. not a lockdown type approach. Meat packing plants and DP centers are mostly to blame in this case.. one system as bad as the other.. both need radical change. Why close coffee shops??? There is now social distancing, screens, hand sanitizer and everyone is respectful. This is ridiculous.
@Dave Connolly: I’ve been in Kerry for the past week not a single yank in sight (not can you hear any) localised locks downs are the best way forward no question about that, you problem is your in one of the high risk areas. Stop blaming others and get on board trying to fix this. Just look at the numbers of new cases and play your part.
@Dave Connolly: Agree . I live in Offaly. A village on tipp border. I do all my shopping in Tipperary.. My doctor, dentist , chemist etc all in Tipperary. As the closest town to me is in Tipperary. Majority of village work in this town. Ridiculous to think guards will be out stopping people doing something they always do. Hope city folk have same attitude when they get shut down for a cluster 50 km away because that’s the case with me. The town in Offaly is actually closer to Dublin than me. Utter nonsense this is
@Dave Connolly: That’s it, you’re taking your ball and going home?
I’m not sure it works that way.
@LITTLEONE: my daughter and cousins were in cliffs of mother yesterday. Full of Americans. Yet today they can’t leave the county. Ridiculous
@Philip King ⚡️: do you ever stop licking boots?
@Paddy Dunne: any idea how the virus was transmitted in the shop if people wearing masks / visors ?
@Michael Waldron:they came from direct provision and landed in the town and already had covid they are all wearing masks the danger is where else have they been we will only know in the coming weeks
@Dave Connolly: wakey wakey Dave r number is what matters for everyone,you are young what about the older people who are now terrified think about them
@Dave Connolly: provision centre? How many people going around with no masks just take a look around you before you start the blame game.
@LITTLEONE: I’m really curious about this. We have anecdotal second-hand accounts of the place being “full of Yanks”. Yet, we know from airlines and airports there are few Americans arriving. I work in a hotel that’s usually packed with Americans this time of year, yet I’ve only seen one group of 6 Americans in the 6 weeks since we reopened. Friends in Doolin and Killarney tell me they haven’t seen any American since March. My direct experience, the experiences of my friends and the data coming from the airports all completely contradict what you are saying. How are these Americans coming in and sneaking past the airports? How are the majority of people not seeing any? How come, if they are so prevalent, you haven’t seen any? Can you tell the difference between a Canadian and an American?
@Dave Connolly: the track and track and test and test is still too slow , people are still waiting 3 to 4 days for results , sometimes its hard to get tested over a weekend, I was told this by person working in this sector, its not hearsay, its just easier for Martin the hypocrite to shut things down, nothing works right in this country, just ask Vicki Phelan.
@Dave Connolly: you wear a mask and use an app. Great lad aren’t you. How does your heroic efforts make those who don’t wear masks or have the app comply ? . How does your rage help anyone? . All of my family live in Kildare and my wife and kids didn’t see them for 3 months during the first lockdown and now for the length of this lockdown it will be the same. Excuse my anger but false me first rage helps no one. Get on with it and play your part because if you continue to go about your daily life then others will follow your poor example. Grow up and get on with it
@Cian Nolan: lots of American tours into Ireland cancelled since March no work for drivers guides etc. I know people who are on €350 a week now. One of the reasons we are being asked to staycation. Dont exaggetate
@Mary Oliver: Think you quoted the wrong person Mary.
@LITTLEONE: I think any Garda who stops you will use their common sense. In any event you are allowed travel for medical appointments or to get medication.
@Conall: Exactly…they said essential travel and that’s essential even if it’s technically the next county I’m sure them knowing what village the person comes from they’ll allow them go through. People don’t think for themselves and love dramatising everything.
@Dave Connolly: despite evidence from our own country.
@Philip King ⚡️: I’m just back from holidaying in Killarney and other parts of Kerry. No American bus tours at all, so no Americans. Lots of NI cars and camper vans and lets face it they are very welcome.
So if Dublin has a cluster in say Dun Laoghaire, is the whole county to be locked down all the way to Balbriggan ? But Bray is fine ….
Doesn’t make sense
@Malachi Shanks: how else would you do it? Lock down both counties. All surrounding counties?
@Malachi Shanks: that was always identified as the problem with regional lockdowns, the CMO even highlighted it when people were pushing to re-open certain areas during the national lockdown, there would always have to be some border to the region and people would be complaining ‘why do I need to be locked down, sure the town a mile down the road is still fully open’
@Willie Murphy: 10mile radius with seem doable?
@Willie Murphy: no you start by locking down the factories and DP centres and if necessary the town and so on, a radius of 10k or what ever. What is the point of contact tracing apps etc if the info is not being used when it comes to localised lock downs.
@Sal Paradise: I can just hear someone saying “my house is 9.9 miles… Why should I have to lock down when my mates 200 yards down the road don’t!!!” Just follow the rules, whether it’s 10 miles, town, city, county, province….but unfortunately we’ll always have those who park in disabled bays, break the speed limits, drive with a few beers and won’t follow any rules or guidelines….. It’s the same mentality.
@Sal Paradise: But how would people know where you can and can’t go? People are pretty clear on county boundaries but having some arbitrary made up boundary will be hard for people to get their heads around, even if it is based in data. Where exactly will it start and stop?
@Malachi Shanks: bray is co wicklow different constituency
@Willie Murphy: Lockdown within a certain radius of the clusters. Irish Water were able to provide a map of boil-water-affected areas when there was a water-treatment issue. Why can’t HSE do something similar?
@Kevin Farrell: because in the case of water you have a bloody pipe supplying it. They literally mapped where the plumbing from the affected plant went to, thats also why it was an irregular shape. You can’t do that when modeling how people move.
As lockdown goes these regional lockdown are a better way of dealing with out break. It gives us all an idea of what kind of lockdown we’ll get. And in fairness its more of a social lockdown than anything else with minimum impact. All business can stay open except for social ones.
@Macca Attack: agree but we’ll see if they are as quick to lock down Dublin when the inevitable cluster hits somewhere there .
The goverment knew there was a problem in these meat factories and with the living arrangements of a lot of their workers .
Wait until the partners of some of these workers that are working in nursing homes start showing signs this is something this goverment knew about
It was well know that the testers couldnt figure out who was employed in these places and that one of these clusters may have come from a worker returning from his home country that wasnt on the so called green list .
@Michael Mcloughlin: I agree with everything you said. And basically it’s down to people doing the right things. But if this doesn’t work it will mean a big spread of the virus and ultimately national lockdown. The gov could certainly do more on this
@Macca Attack: hope you have same attitude if it happens to you. Because maybe they should have looked at a map and saw that the cluster was 50 kms away from some who by no choice have to travel in to other counties I live in Offaly. A village on tipp border. I do all my shopping in Tipperary.. My doctor, dentist , chemist etc all in Tipperary. As the closest town to me is in Tipperary. Majority of village work in this town. Ridiculous to think guards will be out stopping people doing something they always do. Hope city folk have same attitude when they get shut down for a cluster 50 km away because that’s the case with me. The town in Offaly is actually closer to Dublin than me. Utter nonsense this is
.
“I’m working closely with my colleagues in Government and the public health advisory team to ensure all of the practical implications for local residents and businesses are understood with these developments today,” …a response from a local TD,
have you ever heard such utter drivel
and Flanagan mouthing off its unfair after he locked down the entire country under Garda sueprvision
this localised lockdown is just another piece in the jisaw to tighten control… why are we not Testing, Testing, Testing!!!!
@Kavsie: we are testing testing testing. All major factories in these counties are to be tested
@Macca Attack: are to be……
plus, if we can mount checkpoints then why not give the same impetus to testing,,…test, track, trace, etc….on alarge scale
just for once be proactive rather than stuoidly reactive
its like a merry go round
@Macca Attack: agreed, sure is that not why the problem was discovered? The vast majority of these cases appeared to be assymptomatic and would have been discovered without significant testing
@Kavsie: are you suggesting we test the whole country. I’m not sure it’s possible really and it would also be pointless as 1 new case would start the virus off again. This regional lockdown is purely because levels of the virus have become dangerous and national spread from it is high risk. For once I think they’ve done the right thing. And I’m critical at best
@Macca Attack: how many died in Laois Offaly Kildare from Covid-19 in the last week? During this terrible pandemic… From this disease that is so lethal you dont even know you have it? Cant believe how many people have fallen for this hoax.
@Macca Attack: yes I am saying that…after this lockdown is over other counties will follow suit…the meat plants were given tests because of a track from from one infection….i believe if the Govhad a strtegy of encouraging companies to test there workforce via some tax incentive scheme we could soon just get on with our lives,,,but, we will have soporadic outbreaks and then sporadic lockdowns, this cannot just go on indefinite, ..its utter nonsense tbh..
@Kavsie: they tried to expand testing at the start and the system nearly collapsed due to limited lab capacity and test kits. If you go then the route of testing entire populations or industries there just aren’t the resources as only so many tests can be manufactured in a given time, and every country is looking for them, and even if you did managed to achieve it, it only takes 1 case slipping through to put you back to square one
@Macca Attack: ww weren’t though in a known transmission environment where there had been cases over previous months.
@D Mems: Luxembourg is testing their entire population, at a rate of over 10 thousand test per 100k people.
We could surely test an entire county if the government did its job and built a proper test infrastructure.
There isn’t even a testing facility in Kildare.
@D Mems: “there just aren’t the resources as only so many tests can be manufactured in a given time”
of that i do not agree…necessity is the mother of invention, its like saying if a vacinne is found we will have to wait yrs for us all to get it, not so, they will manufacturer it at break neck speed for profit
so why cant they for test resources, the testing kits are relatively simole to produce…we are 6 months in to a so called “pandemic” and still a shortage of what can be mass produced in the western world
something smells fishy in Denamrk…so to speak
@Macca Attack: I know lots of people in the Kildare factories as i’ve worked in them for nearly 20 years, they have been begging for testing and have heard nothing about it actually happening
@Masses are awakening: Is that you Donald?
No lockdown for me either while the yanks fly in !
Ffg cant have it both ways and look after their rich friends who sponsor them
It’s a joke. Dublin should have been regionally locked down with ages. We were told it was an all or nothing approach. People are being punished because this government couldn’t see these potential high risk environments breaking out and they should expect serious anger for that
@Pedro: we could all see the problems, people have been concerned about meat plants for months, but this expectation that the government must fix everything is unworkable, we all need to take a share of the responsibility. We all want cheap meat in the supermarkets so accept indirectly the poor working and accomodation issues associated with the meat processing sector that have lead to these clusters and regional lockdowns
A lot of roumers of workers turning up in dog food factories, pumped up on fever suppressants. Propably not entitled to sick pay, on contracts.
Factory reopens on Monday, county on lockdown, is like cutting off a leg when you have an ingrown toe nail.
@Cathal: A toe that has become gangrenous and has spread further up the leg.
Why are we giving people the choice as to whether or not they are to be tested ? We hear that a big percentage won’t go for testing even when identified as at risk! Government response is “ please go for testing, please wear a mask” MANDATORY TESTS are essential . People have a loaded gun and we are still pussyfooting around. Test, isolate and wear a mask. Accommodation issue and sick pay has to be addressed immediately
@Dave Phelan: You might be happier in China.
@Dave Phelan: Mandatory, now there’s a word that’s used a lot these days by everyone. What do you mean by mandatory testing, testing anyone they want without consent ?
@Thornto84: yes, for gods sake it is a global pandemic. Those identified as contacts who will not test and isolate are the ones spreading it into the community. Is that what you want? There was uproar when seat belts were mandatory! Now it’s acceptable.
@Aoife Dooley: I guess you don’t live in Kildare, Offaly or Laois!
@Dave Phelan: they are patients not prisoners or criminals .
@Dave Phelan: you know that for sure ? I was under the impression community transmission was extremely low.
@Isabel Oliveira: what are you on about? I guess you adhere to the “please take a test” group when it’s now painfully obvious that a big percentage will not test and subsequently just continue to spread the virus. Mandatory is a solution , so what is your solution?
@Thornto84: the majority were asymptomatic and there were 4 cases detected of community transmission. Do you want to just wait until community transmission is out of control before doing something. Then it’s too late
@Dave Phelan: WOW a whole 4 cases better stock up on the bog roll, you’re not one bit terrified at all or dramatic, you’d want your head checked if you think everyone should be frog marched to get tested, my suggestion to you is to just have a look at the actual data and graphs outside of the journal and other news , and see what way they are going it actually might help with the anxiety (But I know you’re not going to do it so I’ll just leave it at that)
@Thornto84: yes 4 tested and confirmed but the ones who will not test could be multiples of this . What’s your solution to these people? Some don’t test out of fear of losing their job and the fat cat owners care less that they live in cramped accommodation and encourage the spread
@Dave Phelan: there’s quite extensive laws here and abroad against forced medical procedures that’s why Dave. I wouldn’t suggest those be removed.
@Dave Phelan: mandatory without a law to back it up?
@Tony Humphreys: you have been in contact with a person with the virus and refuse testing! So everybody is expected to just accept this and allow you to potentially infect others! You go to work , to shop to socialise? You appear to be totally happy with that????
@Dave Phelan: So daily tests for everyone just to be sure to be sure?
@Dave Phelan: personally, I accept that risk but I recognise others may not. They are free to isolate themselves if they wish.
@Tony Humphreys: very big of you to accept that risk and ignore the rest of your family , friends, neighbours and the general public.
Nphet and the govt are pushing all the responsibility onto the public. Why is there not mass testing in these areas instead of telling people ( who many might be asymptomatic and not realise they are infected) to monitor themselves. The hse should be taking control of the situation instead of waiting for things to develop. We have had 5 months to get things in place for situations like this when they happen. Also I find it very curious that there’s no mention of the effectiveness of the covid app given the sudden spike in cases.
@Irish Sean: Testing everyone is a waste of time. It only gives you a snapshot at a point in time. A person who tests negative could be incubating the virus. It’s not a panacea. All over the world migrant workers, the vulnerable and the poorly paid have emerged as vectors for the virus. In general Ireland’s Covid payments have managed to deal with this problem but there are pockets of activity where this is seemingly not of any help. What we are witnessing is the working out of the consequences of inequality. And what this shows is the need in a pandemic to pay as much attention to those likely to fall between the cracks of the economy as to mainstream workers and to come up with remedies. The statisticians and sociologists are going to have a field day when this is all over.
@John R:
Totally disagree…it has been proven that the most effective way to suppress the virus is mass testing and quick contact tracing. The main reason for this current outbreak is the slowness of nphet and govt to react. They made a big deal during the week of not opening the pubs because of trends that were happening in other countries yet they never heeded the warning signs coming from other countries the problems that could arise from meat and processing factories.
@Irish Sean: yes the majority of the responsibility dose lie with the public. If the government and NPHET put forward recommendations to protect people its up to the public to follow them.
@barry moore:
Yes…I agree with the fact the responsibility lies with the public. It’s all well and good making recommendations but when key decisions and quick responses need to be made nphet and govt have been found lacking. Instead of acting they just kick things down the road with their wait and see approach
Remember the beef tribunal.
lockdown meat processing plants until all workers tested larry have no charlie to save the day now
The whole concept of a county is made up anyway. Just lines drawn on a map.
@The Guru: unfortunately very difficult to do any other way
@Eoin McLove: electoral boundaries? Many more of those.
@The Guru: Try telling that to GAA fans.
“People will comply with what they see is sensible, good, sound, scientific evidence and where they don’t see it, they won’t,”
Translation – brainwashed people will do what they are told even when there is no real scientific evidence to back up those claims. People who are capable of thinking for themselves will ask questions and demand to see the proper science (not bogus science and not copy and paste articles from google) behind the actions take.
@Tiktok: if the government had a track record of competence we may be more inclined to follow advice, but they don’t. They mandate things like face masks, lockdowns – big visual and draconian.
@Tony Humphreys: So you don’t accept the scientific logic of lockdowns (ie quarantines) or the use of face masks both of which have an abundance of scientific evidence backing them? What would you propose instead?
The ONLY thing we have to do to keep fit and healthy, according to our health leaders is:
1. Wear a mask
2. Social distance
3. Wash your hands
4. Stay indoors
Still no ads for eating well, avoiding sugar, processed fats and other things known to slaughter your immunity, exercising outside under the sun, getting adequate rest. Those things, it seems, are archaic. Just trust “the science” and wait for a vaccine to save you. That’s all you can do.
@Pete Byrne: you should join NPHET
4. Stay indoors
“other things known to slaughter your immunity, exercising outside under the sun”
plus, people should stop with this mask nonsense, …social distancing ang top class hygiene is enough to flatten the curve…we have shown that
its gone from the hourly message,esp politicians of…”wash ur hands” to “wear a mask”
covid is now 100% political
@Pete Byrne: I think they’re things they advised so you don’t get seriously ill or make others seriously ill. I don’t seem to remember being told that COVID precautions are all you need to take to be fit and healthy, mainly because we weren’t.
If everyone lives on site a targeted approach is wiser but if many workers live in their own accommodation – which is my understanding – it’s necessary to target the counties with regional partial lockdown ( no need to close everything ) but it’s not inspections that are needed it’s mass testing and tracing : workers , families, neighbours , local trade. Self isolation in city west must be on a voluntary. Basis . Let’s remember they are patients not criminals.
@Isabel Oliveira: what about those who will not or refuse to test?
Shambles in the lead up to this at the same level of incompetence with how they handled the nursing homes.
Head of the Garda Reps Association said on the 9oclock news last night that the Guards in the 3 counties had not been asked yet to do anything. Shows what an uncoordinated knee-jerk blunt instrument response this is.
This will do more damage than good as they’ll lose the people when they try to sell this ‘solidarity’ message again.
At a minimum they should have also announced compensation for anyone who did what was asked and booked a staycation but won’t be entitled to a refund. Do they really think all of these people won’t travel!?!
Should also have explained better on the science and rationale for this as it’s definitely fallen flat if you read most sources.
It’s the of high rate of asymptomatic people that should be a concern. There’s no use locking down county’s without adequate testing.
@Thomas: I dont believe that it’s just an excuse for not testing. people are going to work sick and taking lots of paracetamol to get round temperature checks because they cant afford not to work.
@ed w: so should we not just shut down practically everything for 3 weeks….kill it
then open our ports etc and go back to square one
The prisons are exempt, of course. The ‘test’ itself is seriously flawed.
If we all went plant based it would solve the problem of the meat plants. It would be a quicker solution than waiting for the government to do anything.
@Sal Paradise: Oh, you may want to try some people to go even one day meat-free and they will complain even more.
@Sal Paradise: there was also an outbreak at a fruit/veg packing plant. It’s probably a mix of work and living conditions. Many people who work in such places are recruited, employed and housed by agencies based abroad. They’re put up in dorms and bussed into the plant. The equivalent of prsi and tax is paid abroad, so they’ve no entitlements here. Refrigerated workplaces, a/c, constant hosing and working cheek by jowl together with living conditions seem to be very conducive to the spread of the virus
This form of lockdown is indeed disappointing for the residents but it’s note reasonable as the previous lockdown. We used to lockdown even regions without cases.
But yes, I don’t book any staycation until shortly before I want to travel
This government are complete and utter Ar–holes
@Margaret Kane: I would say despots
It’s tiring listening to all the people line up to pick holes in every measure introduced to prevent the spread of the virus.
None of them are going to be perfect but the most important thing is they’re easily understood by the people at risk. In this case county boundaries are simple and clear, as opposed to a radius around certain towns where nobody is quite sure where it begins or ends.
@Rochelle: I entirely agree. It’s all the Government’s fault apparently. What is interesting is that there was great social solidarity when the entire country was locked down. Lock down individual areas and people perceive unfairness no matter what the rationale. It shows how much we humans are driven by emotions irrespective of the evidence or practicalities. But it also shows the importance of fairness and its perception in society as part of the glue of social solidarity.
I’ve commented on several articles highlighting this ridiculous side effect and several have laughed me off
Go look at a map for five minutes and you’ll see why this makes no sense
The virus does not respect imaginary lines so why are we using them to fight it?
Whoever heard of the government shutting down and going on 6weeks holiday in the middle of a pandemic , yeah they will tell you their doing constituency work blah, blah, Martin must be the worst taoiseach this country ever had, and he’s proving this in a short period of time!
I suppose we have two choices. Either we hold firm in destroying this virus or face more hotspots. I just wonder how many hospital beds are within Kildare, Laois and Offaly. Will patients be move to other hospitals within the state.
What happens in county’s with no hospital beds? With most hospitals in Dublin what chance has Dublin businesses of staying open?
Is there a prize for the first over the line with a whine over the ‘unfairness’ of a minor precaution?
GOLD goes to Catrherine Murphy. SILVER to David Connelly and BRONZE to all the other whiners
@John Lynch: Seems like you’re whining now as well John. Perhaps we can bump you up to gold. Congrats bro.
@Charles Shelly: And how would you get migrants to do that? And where would you find the housing? Blaming the already vulnerable for systematic failures of fairness within our own economy to which we have turned a blind eye is wrong. We need to tackle the root cause. Allowing employers to bring in low paid workers for specific work and ignoring their poverty and living conditions is what leads to these problems.
This minister is so slippery that he must have nineteen eels as advisors !
He does talk garbage doesn’t it. Politician jargen straight from the manual. “working closely with” makes me cringe
have your say