Safe.

And swanky.

This afternoon.

Dublin city centre.

Yesterday: Mask A Broadsheet Reader

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Um.

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18 thoughts on “Mask Envy

  1. Ger

    Denmark opened their schools one month ago and they have had no issues.
    Really shows how idiotic our government is. And as for holohan, his attempt to bury the cervical screening debacle is unforgiveable. A real Taoiseach would have fired him.

    1. SOQ

      Yes with no face masks – either for pupils or teachers.

      France and The Netherlands to reopen next week, older already back in Germany.

      1. Lush

        National schools started back last Monday in France. it’s a phased return, more classes beginning tomorrow. But it’s not obligatory, if you can assure you child is being schooled at home, he can stay home. Class size is capped at 15 pupils too. Schools provide a full lunchtime meal here, so it allows many parents of restricted means to ensure their children are eating properly and allows those who financially speaking need to work, to do so.

    2. Fergalito

      That’s all well and good citing a handful of countries – what about the UK? Or the US? Or Brazil or Italy? People continue to die in their hundreds here in Ireland as a result of the virus. Lockdown measures are cautiously being loosened. Play the ball, not the man.

      1. Johnnythree

        Look at the figures realistically. Over 900 of the 1500 were in care homes, most with pre existing conditions. If they had just focussed on just keeping those care homes infection free we would have half as many deaths but no. Could not do one simple thing. Hence unnecessary lockdown and economic carnage. Dont swallow the line about lockdown being necessary. Social distancing, masks, testing and infection control were not done properly. Govt & Holohan both incompetent but no surprise there.

        1. Fergalito

          Well it’s certainly the case that we should have acted sooner, a matter of weeks made a significant difference to the approach that had to be taken but that horse has already bolted. Agree that in countries like South Korea, immediate no nonsense crackdown on infection clusters coupled with an immediate deployment of resources and strategy to manage their epidemic resulted in superior outcomes.

          1. f_lawless

            South Korea’s strategy success in the short term may also be its weakness in the longer-term in absence of an effective vaccine. It’s now becoming the conventional wisdom that we can’t make the virus go away and the best strategy is to let a ‘herd immunity’ build up among under 65’s who are healthy while taking steps to protect the most vulnerable. If it’s the case that S. Korea has prevented much of the public from being exposed to the virus, then where does that leave them, going forward?

          2. Fergalito

            I don’t know about herd immunity being the conventional wisdom, can you link to anything reputable that supports that view? Genuinely interested. Yes, a vaccine is the priority as well as an effective antiviral treatment. I had always understood herd immunity strategies to require a vaccine.

          3. f_lawless

            Well, I mean becoming conventional in light of the recent statements by Mike Ryan of the WHO : “I think if we are to reach a new normal, Sweden represents a model if we wish to get back to a society in which we don’t have lockdowns, etc”.

            The term ‘herd immunity’ (naturally acquired) became a bit of a political hot potato at the onset of the crisis- even Swedish health authorities have in the past avoided dubbing their strategy as such.

            But Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s chief epidemiologis and architect of the strategy, has recently projected that parts of Sweden could reach herd immunity as early as this month.

            This article dated May 12: written by Swedish and US professors is worth a read
            https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/sweden/2020-05-12/swedens-coronavirus-strategy-will-soon-be-worlds

            Even if full herd immunity isn’t reached naturally, a strategy such as Sweden’s is the only way forward while there is no vaccine – building it up as much as possible (but carefully) better protects the most vulnerable

          4. f_lawless

            Ah here. I took the time to respond in detail to Fergalito’s question on herd immunity/conventional wisdom. I then posted a short follow-up comment with a daily mail link. At that point my longer reply disappeared. These glitches seem to be happening more frequently now – or maybe I’m on the naughty step, for some reason?

            Edit- ok it’s suddenly reappeared ;)

  2. Art Vandelay

    Masks only in the city centre it seems. The citizens of D6/D6W are not only not wearing any but they are actively being angry about people even trying to social distance. I’ve a had a few incidents in the past week with people going out of their way to not social distance whilst i was pushing a buggy. Seems the majority are starting to lose the “we’re all in this together” mood.

  3. Paulus

    I believe we’ll soon be encouraged to draw a big smile on our masks…to help keep collective morale up.
    (Alternatively a snarly mouth i.e. “Keep your distance). Dragon’s Den where are you?

  4. Your Home Correspondent

    Look on the bright side of wearing a mask: You dont have to shave as much. Same for the men.

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