CV and mad panic behaviour

[Lods]

Not a great time for NSW to have a Premier from the religious right.

But it's happening in Queensland too.
Health and Safety have given way to political considerations.
It's lovely we've opened up for Christmas but the consequences of that won't be realised for a month two yet.
By the end of summer we could be heading the same way as NSW and Vic. in terms of numbers.

No masks ( until a day or two ago), no lockdowns, cases increasing a huge influx of visitors for Christmas and Summer Holidays.
Easing of restrictions was planned for high vaccination rates with Delta.
Omicron comes along (with probably reduced vaccination protection) but it's still full steam ahead.

Lot's of folks are less than happy with opening at this time.
Yes we have to open but at a time but it's the 'timing' of this that makes folks question the decisions.

"Merry Christmas" cards will soon be replaced by "Hope you get well soon"

[LP]

"Merry Christmas" cards will soon be replaced by "Hope you get well soon"

I hope not, but I understand that fear.

I think the Christian Right infiltration of politics has left Australia at the mercy of a religious holiday. They aren't going to close not matter what, I doubt there is a chance in hell that they'll do like Netherland and restrict Christmas Day to 2 visitors, and Netherland was quite conservative in it's restrictions yet did enough to stop the 4th wave, but the consequence of that was a general public that became complacent and they have the lowest double vax / booster rate uptake in Europe, and are now paying a high price.

Some regions are seeing Omicron cases tripling in as many days, the public in general do not understand the non-linear nature of the threat.

If you are big into Christmas do what is smart. Wear your mask in public no matter what nuffy attacks you at the shops, keep the family exposure to a minimum, stay away from the shops and public places as much as possible, reserve your social efforts over the coming week for the family and friends get together, the price of staying safe for a few days and not suffering more and wider restrictions is a very small price to pay!

[Lods]

I think the Christian Right infiltration of politics has left Australia at the mercy of a religious holiday.

I'd say the 'religious right' has very little to do with decisions regarding Christmas.

Religion left the stage long ago.
It's Santa time.
It's the biggest family time of the year.
And it's school holidays, and therefore family holiday time....all have very little  to do with 'left and right' politics and  more to to with people pressure to relax restrictions.

Folks are off the leash, and we'll have to wait and see what the consequences are!

[LP]

I'm not sure if the journalist or editor who wrote the below thought through the sub-headline, it reads like something the work experience kid would write and then be laughed out of the office.

As a human being, Matthew Knott was alarmed by much of what he was witnessing. As a journalist, he was electrified.

It's a functional admission that sensationalism and profit overshadows morality.

Was it accidental, or is it a cry for help in a world media dominated by profitable bloggers?

[LP]

Only old, fat, unhealthy people die from COVID, the protestors told me.

So this bloke will be safe, 50s, vaccinated, healthy, athletic, lean, lungs of an elite singer ........................... ! :o

[img width=450]https://e3.365dm.com/21/12/2048x1152/skynews-carlos-marin-il-divo_5620619.jpg[/img]

[Mav]

Fauci warns Omicron will cause record-high coronavirus hospitalisations, deaths in US, The Age.

He continued to urge the unvaccinated to get their shots and those who have received only two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines to get booster doses. Although vaccines cannot be the only layer of protection against the Omicron variant, he said, defeating the pandemic would not be possible without them.

If I became dictator for a day, I'd be re-imposing mask mandates for sure.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Fauci warns Omicron will cause record-high coronavirus hospitalisations, deaths in US, The Age.

If I became dictator for a day, I'd be re-imposing mask mandates for sure.

Ditto...

[madbluboy]

Fauci warns Omicron will cause record-high coronavirus hospitalisations, deaths in US, The Age.

If I became dictator dan for a day, I'd be re-imposing mask mandates for sure.

Agreed

[ElwoodBlues1]

NSW with 2500 more cases and increasing numbers in hospital and ICU, and Boris looking at a 2 week lockdown in England.
Bit of talk that Boosters might also be pushed forward to 4 months......

[LP]

Interesting, it seems that many small non-retail businesses and traders, despite having suffered over the pandemic, have opted to close early for Christmas.

Non-retail business is slow anyway, and this week means almost nothing to many of them as companies stop discretionary spending in the lead-up to Christmas and almost nobody starts a new project at this time of year, so rather than risk getting stuck with an isolation order over Christmas just for staying open in a null week, they effectively pulled the pin last weekend.

I'm a bit surprised but it sort of makes sense, they don't want another COVID impacted holiday period!