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Marseille, France after the announcement of a new 6pm curfew in the country. Daniel Cole

France introduces nationwide 6pm curfew to tackle Covid-19

Prime Minister Jean Castex also revealed new controls for those arriving from outside the EU

ALL OF FRANCE will be under a strict 6pm curfew for at least 15 days to fight the spread of Covid-19, the country’s Prime Minister announced yesterday.

Jean Castex also revealed strict new controls for those arriving in France from countries outside the European Union.

Starting on Monday, they must produce a PCR test with negative results and self-isolate for seven days followed by a new, negative test.

France wants to coordinate a response with the European Union about arrivals from EU countries, he said.

The French government is trying to avoid a third lockdown with partial measures like curfews which Castex called both “preventative” and “reactive”.

Most regions were under an 8pm curfew but from Saturday “everyone must be home at 6pm,” Castex said. That means shops must close by then. Bars and restaurants have been closed for months.

The average infection rate for coronavirus stands at about 16,000 people per day.

France has one of the highest death counts in Europe, at more than 69,000, and ranks seventh in the world behind countries such as the US, Brazil and the UK.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday called for tougher restrictions to contain the country’s worsening coronavirus outbreak and pushed for crisis talks with regional leaders, party sources told AFP.

At a meeting of senior members of her centre-right CDU party, Merkel said she wanted to bring forward a planned meeting with state premiers to “the coming week”, participants said.

They quoted her as saying the virus could only be stopped with “significant additional measures”.

She also voiced concern about the virus strain that recently emerged in Britain and is considered more contagious, saying people urgently need to reduce their social contacts.

Germany today passed two million Covid-19 cases.

- With reporting by AFP.

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    Mute Irish Sean
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:11 AM

    I can just imagine the outcry from the covid deniers and those blatantly breaking guidelines if something similar was done here

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    Mute Michael Bodycoach
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:16 AM

    @Irish Sean: walking the dog last night. Seen a gang of 30 youths outside a pizza place. They are there every night. A curfew would sort that out.

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    Mute Irish Sean
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:23 AM

    @Michael Bodycoach:
    If the gardai were doing what they’re supposed to things like that wouldn’t be happening. They drive up and down my local town yet do nothing about the groups of youths that are congregating.

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    Mute Dam IenCahill
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:35 AM

    @Irish Sean: give it a rest… what about the parents ? Schools were closed for a reason !

    109
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    Mute mar
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:37 AM

    @Irish Sean: Most normal people probably wouldn’t mind a curfew so much if like France we could avoid a lockdown and shops as well as schools and creches would stay open.
    I can imagine though that people like you who for some reason can’t get enough of the restrictions would be absolutely delighted if a curfew on top of the current lockdown was introduced here.

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    Mute Irish Sean
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:52 AM

    @Dam IenCahill:
    Your point makes no sense.
    Just because you put an exclamation mark after something doesn’t make it anymore so.

    33
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    Mute Irish Sean
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:02 AM

    @mar:
    People like me ? What is that exactly?
    Someone who is exhausted by the constant lockdowns. That has respect for other people and thinks about others unlike a lot of people out there that just don’t care. I said nothing about wanting a curfew. If people took responsibility for their actions we wouldn’t be in the mess we are now

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    Mute Dearbháile Callan
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:06 AM

    @Irish Sean: exactly do a check point in same part of town every few days not even 1km from town centre

    15
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    Mute Ger
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:06 AM

    @mar: A curfew would be pointless if people were thronging shops all day. The virus doesn’t just come out at night. All this nonsense accusing people of “wanting restrictions”. NO ONE wants restrictions. Not one single person! But no normal person wants to get sick or have a loved one die. I say no normal person because there are plenty who don’t care who gets sick or dies as long as they can do what they want and go where they want. I don’t want a curfew. I hope that we can get things under control with the restrictions we have. But I want proper consequences for the people of any age who are just doing want they want and to hell with the rest of us.

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    Mute Irena Cepaitiene
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:07 AM

    @mar: I personally would really like Ireland to go into full lockdown first let alone curfew. What we have now is not full lockdown just few restrictions.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:21 AM

    @Ger: people don’t hug and kiss each other in the shops, where as your daughter is behind the bike shed with with some skinny spotty fellow with his thunge stuck down her throat trying to be part of your family ha

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    Mute mar
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:05 AM

    @Irish Sean: You’re right, Sean. You didn’t say that you want a curfew but you put it as if only “covid deniers” and “those blatantly breaking the rules” could be be opposed to such a measure.

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    Mute Ger
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:19 AM

    @Gerard Heery: I don’t know what I’m more worried about…..the fact that I didn’t know I had a daughter, or what this “thunge” is that she had shoved down her throat

    43
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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:40 AM

    @Irish Sean: maybe their parents should do something instead?

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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 15th 2021, 11:27 AM

    @Irish Sean: what specific law can they use to break up a group on a public street? Love the “guards should do better” crowd, so let’s hear it from you then…

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    Mute Andrew English
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    Jan 15th 2021, 11:44 AM

    @Michael Bodycoach: it would also stop you walking your dog….

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Jan 15th 2021, 12:41 PM

    @Irish Sean: Doesn’t matter. It looks like we might need it. Social distancing isn’t what it should be since March, April..

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Jan 15th 2021, 12:43 PM

    @Andrew English: I can walk my dog outside “curfew hours”. It wouldn’t be a problem

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Jan 15th 2021, 1:51 PM

    @Ger: I was having a laugh no harm I hope, but it is whats happening out there

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:44 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute Sandra
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    Jan 15th 2021, 7:44 PM

    @Ger:

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    Mute cill123
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:24 AM

    Could do with a curfew here. Too many groups of teenagers wandering the streets and hanging around shops & parks in the evenings

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    Mute Gavin Lynam
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:46 AM

    @cill123: What else can they do ? Covid is robbing them off their youth

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    Mute Sean
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:56 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: well they’re saying now the whole country could be vaccinated by September so if that is the case they won’t lose much more of their youth and can hopefully get back to loitering and hanging round street corners then.

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    Mute neuromancer
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:26 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: Robbing them of their youth? Really? In what way? They need to stay in like everyone else in the country, simple. There’s a reason the schools are still closed because they don’t want Covid spreading, or are teenagers a special group of people that it’s affecting and they should continue doing as they please. I’d recon its the parents of these teenagers hanging around that could care less about them.

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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:01 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: Its also robbing the elderly and comprimised of life…

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:17 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: Teenagers in 1914 were literally robbed of their youth as has happened many times in history.

    Todays teenagers are in a far better position to deal with the current situation given the existance of things like social media, Netflix etc and generally better social and medical conditions.

    They’re in no worse position than in any other section of society and indeed better than some age groups who have been disproportionately affected by this calamity.

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    Mute Gavin Lynam
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:21 AM

    @Sean: So we should keep all teenagers locked in their room playing playstation getting obese for 8 months …

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    Mute mar
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:34 AM

    @neuromancer: Yes, they are absolutely robbed of their youth. It’s already incredibly hard for an adult to stay in. Imagine what it is like for a teenager.

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    Mute neuromancer
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:34 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: they can go for walks with family, or by themselves, the problem is they go out and hang around in a group/gang. They can stay in and play console, but your the parent if you think they should play console 7 days a week all day.

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Jan 15th 2021, 11:03 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: This virus is here for good but we can not stay locked down forever . Covid virus is like the tide it will keep coming in. A lot of miserable people here who must never have mixed with others in their youth.

    11
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    Mute Bountyop
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    Jan 15th 2021, 11:36 AM

    @Gavin Lynam: Why would they not be able to exercise? Have they forgotten how to read?

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    Mute Sara Davis
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    Jan 15th 2021, 1:31 PM

    @Gavin Lynam: stay at home and socialise online.

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    Mute Gavin Lynam
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    Jan 15th 2021, 1:52 PM

    @Sara Davis: alot easier said than done Sara

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 15th 2021, 2:16 PM

    @Gavin Lynam: My teenager has never been fitter since lockdown. She works out every day, eats sensibly, goes for loads of walks, plays hurling with me and all within the lockdown guidelines.

    All it takes is a bit of cop on.

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    Mute Critical Thinker
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:35 AM

    Talking to 2 friends last night one who lives in the middle of nowhere and the other who lives just outside Paris. Both commute to work. They leave at about 7am and return at 7pm. One has a small child who she collects at 6.30. They are distraught. With the 8pm curfew they could just about get some exercise or go to the shops. With this, they have no chance of doing anything. They are also worried about the shops being too busy as everyone will be trying to do their shopping at the same times. I doubt all those lockdown zealots posting here realise that curfews don’t just apply to teenagers. They apply to everyone and mean no supermarkets after 6pm, no takeaways, no going for a walk. If you work, it’s not good. Try to imagine working, homeschooling and shopping within a 12hr window

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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:07 AM

    @Critical Thinker: Can you imagine actually suffering some minor temporary inconvenience while there’s a global pandemic and health systems at breaking point? Imaging actually taking decisive action and following through on it to mitigate harm and the length of time we’re going to be dealing with. Imagine complaining about how awkward shopping would be with a curfew while the whole time frontline workers lives have been entirely upended working constant overtime under massive stress and risking their own health and that of their families to tackle a highly infectious illness. Jaysus yeah, a curfew sounds awful. You really lived up to your name there “critical thinker”

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    Mute Paul Linehan
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:16 AM

    @Critical Thinker: There doesn’t have to be curfews, or extreme measures if people take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their children. Everyone has the right to their civil liberties, including their right not to be infected by those acting in an irresponsible manner.

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    Mute mar
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    Jan 15th 2021, 11:30 AM

    @Brendan Gordon: Basic having no life for a year or longer = ” temporary inconvenience”?

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    Mute mar
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    Jan 15th 2021, 12:03 PM

    @mar: * Basically having no life for a year or longer = “minor temporary inconvenience “?

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Jan 15th 2021, 12:45 PM

    @Paul Linehan: But a lot of people haven’t been doing that and won’t unless squeezed

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    Mute Sara Davis
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    Jan 15th 2021, 1:34 PM

    @Critical Thinker: arrange to,pick up child earlier – nursery will have to close to allow its staff to get home anyway. Take a walk at lunchtime. Get shopping at the weekend. That seems to cover your friend’s problems.

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    Mute O'Brien
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:12 AM

    Yes…. To tackle Covid 19…. Sure, we all believe you.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:18 AM

    @O’Brien: What’s the reason then? Go on…tell us all.

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    Mute Steve
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:21 AM

    @Michael Carolan: ignore him, he believes this is nothing more than flu, check his Twitter account.

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    Mute Critical Thinker
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    Jan 15th 2021, 10:11 AM

    @Michael Carolan: so few people in France are willing to be vaccinated. The take up is tiny

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    Mute Joe Vlogs
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    Jan 15th 2021, 1:30 PM

    @Critical Thinker: there are many O’Briens in France unfortunately

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:08 AM

    Like trying to keep out the tide, impossible.

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    Mute Paul Linehan
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:14 AM

    @Michael Maher: Indeed, but there are also preventative measures you can use against tidal erosion. Wouldn’t do any harm to bring in some kind of enforceable ideas here to reduce the after dark street gatherings of teenagers.

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:27 AM

    @Paul Linehan: To you think they should be put in chains?

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    Mute Paul Linehan
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:11 AM

    @Michael Maher: That would be a bit extreme Michael. The problem is multiple contacts increase the risk of infection. If you walk down the majority of the main streets in the country there are gatherings of teenagers who are in close, or intimate contact with one another.

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    Mute Jonnie Marre
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    Jan 15th 2021, 8:47 AM

    Curfew doesn’t work lads! Groups everywhere and a lot of traffic still on the roads daily!

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    Mute Steve
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:06 AM

    @Jonnie Marre: We don’t have a curfew here or are you talking about somewhere else?

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    Mute Garry Coll
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    Jan 15th 2021, 9:48 AM

    Yesterday it was Portugal, and many people thought that Spain would be next with a curfew. I guess they were wrong, I hope that nobody lost too much money with Paddy Power on the basis of their hunch.
    If someone has the list of the European countries that are already in a curfew, could they post it up. There still might be a bob or two to be made with PP Online in trying to figure out which will be next.
    In any case, whatever reasons these countries may have for implementing a curfew, Covid is probably one of the least of their priorities, irrespective of what they may say.

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    Mute Black Bird
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    Jan 15th 2021, 5:46 PM

    @Garry Coll: At last some common sense. The Pfizer vaccine has shown up some nasty side effects in some that took it, like an uncontrolled spasming of their muscles. It’s very sad to see. They’re indemnified so nothing can be done but just try to find a cure. I think those that want a curfew should think very hard about what the agenda is here, and really start to think critically about the measures taken for an illness that most people recover from and most cases don’t have any symptoms. Think outside the box a bit. Definitely outside of the one with Holohan on it.

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