To date, just under 2,000 people have died in Ireland from COVID-19 in a country of about five million or 0.03 percent.
As in the U.K., France, and Spain, the Irish have seen a rise in coronavirus cases. How dramatic a spike? Last Tuesday, there were 30 new cases.
But that tiny number was high enough for the government to declare that Dublin is set to re-lock down for three weeks, with restrictions on movement, limits on the number of people allowed in different households, and closures of non-essential business.
As of June, pubs were allowed to open that serve food, but customers must order “a substantial meal” defined as costing at least €9 ($10.60) if they want to buy an alcoholic drink.
Under Ireland’s New ABnormal, there’s a time limit that requires patrons to finish meals within one hour and 45 minutes.
The New York Times ran a story last week with a photo an older gentleman sitting alone at McGinn’s Hop House in Galway, with a pint of Guinness, some type of food item, and an alarm clock… to make sure he didn’t stay past the time limit.
Fergus McGinn, the owner of the pub who took the picture, told the Times he wanted the photo to bring attention to all those out there who are struggling with loneliness. He said pubs play a major role in some peoples’ lives and might be their only connection to the outside world.
“Taking that away from people, that social outlet for that generation, it could be detrimental and savage on their mental health,” he told the paper.
TRENDPOST: Dr. Martin Feeley, Clinical Director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, said the restrictions being imposed by the government are “draconian” and the virus is “much less severe” than the average seasonal flu.
Dr. Feeley told the Irish Times that Ireland should develop herd immunity and more low-risk people be exposed to the virus. He said, “This should have been allowed to happen during the summer months before the annual flu season, to reduce the workload on the health service during winter months.”
Pointing out that young people are being hit hard by the lockdowns, Feeley told the Times, “The financial cost can be seen in any walk or drive through cities, towns and villages. Mortgage repayments and other financial setbacks are virtually all suffered by the young worker or business person and not by the over-65, who are guaranteed their pension, as indeed are the salaries of the individuals who decide to inflict these draconian measures.”
TRENDPOST: Across Europe and the world, there are no consistent COVID lockdown rules and regulation protocols being imposed on the public by politicians that are based on hard scientific data.
In essence, they are making them up.
As the New York Times wrote on 21 August, “With countries employing a variety of strategies – and with rules often changing suddenly and guidance varying from nation to nation – it remains to be seen which tactics will prove both enforceable and effective.”
From time limits when eating in pubs to how family members can meet, to capacity limitations in restaurants, entertainment venues, weddings, funerals, etc…. and varied social distances depending on where you are in the world, politicians and their bureaucrats, without providing a scintilla of scientific evidence to support their rules, keep making up new ones.
