I am very anxious. NPHET have basically given the Irish government a free pass to end all Coronavirus restrictions here in Ireland.
While I freely acknowledge that we cannot and should not live under restrictions for any longer than is necessary, it has just been announced that the Cabinet have given the go ahead to all restrictions bar mask wearing to be lifted from 6am.
I can now look forward to noisy nights when the local pub closes as the customers will then congregate on the forecourt of the petrol station near my house. My sleep is poor as it is, I really don’t anything else to disturb it further.
College and University students are due to return this weekend following their Christmas break so I dread to think of the impact of anti-social behaviour, house parties and lack of respect for local residents with no restrictions in place.
I have no more interest than the man in the moon to go back to a pub and much as I love eating out, with no social distancing or limits on numbers, it’ll be a long time before I feel comfortable to eat out again.
People don’t wear masks properly here as it is. Only last week I avoided a supermarket aisle that contained an older man with his mask round his chin openly coughing and spluttering with mouth uncovered. I haven’t set foot in Lidl since witnessing staff members in their uniforms doing their shopping with masks under their noses. I will still be keeping my distance. I have asthma and although I am fully vaccinated and have had my booster, I have no desire to catch Covid.
I appreciate that Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the economy and that businesses need to be able to earn money but I am really worried that the government is prioritising the economy over the people. There were 5523 positive PCR tests registered yesterday and 5048 positive antigen tests logged. That’s 10,571 cases of Coronavirus in Ireland. There are 896 people in hospital and 90 in ICU. There have been 66 Coronavirus deaths in January 2022. That’s still a lot of people.
I know that all of this is outwith my control and there’s nothing I can do to change it. I will however still social distance, use my judgement on what shops I will or won’t use and wear my mask properly. I’ve only had one PCR test and I hope to keep it that way! I will however buy some antigen tests to use if I do have to go anywhere and continue to be careful and keep myself safe.
