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Why government policies are aimed at "back to normal"

Discussion in 'COVID-19' started by Dutchie, Feb 3, 2022.

  1. Dutchie

    Dutchie DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    I'm thinking that the factors behind the widespread move to get back to normal are:

    1. The shrinking number of deaths relative to infections. For example, in Germany in the last week there were 12 deaths from Covid per million (with infections running at around 13,500 per million for the past week). At that level there would be 600 deaths per year per million, which represents less than 5% of the total number of expected deaths per year (all causes). There is simply no justification for measures with serious impact on society for a disease that (currently) kills so few, the more so when a large majority of infected people suffer only minor symptoms or are asymptomatic.
    It's just one example, but developments go in this direction in many countries.
    Obviously the quoted numbers are reported deaths and reported cases, but it seems likely there's a bigger undercount of infections than for deaths.

    2. Diminishing pressure on hospitals.

    3. The economic cost of certain measures is becoming too much after 2 years, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors, but also in sports, cultural events, entertainment (concerts) etc.

    Obviously it would be better if governments would persist with mandatory masks and other advice that doesn't do economic harm, but at least in Europe it seems many seem to think there's no need for these anymore either.

    The other thing is, what if a next variant isn't so benign as omicron. It seems to me that it's going to be next to impossible for governments to reinstate restrictions/lockdowns even if those would be very necessary in future, after abolishing all current restrictions.
     
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  2. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    I'm certainly ready for this to be over, for these reasons!! My main business is tourism, as can be said for much of the center of NegOr....
     
  3. Mike_Haddon

    Mike_Haddon DI Forum Adept

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    As a business owner (assumed) involved in tourism, what is your take on the 10pm curfew? My view is that I imagine tourists arriving here in the near future will know zero before arrival and it will come as a bit of a shock, especially those expecting to be able to have a night out in Dumaguete. Tourists are not known to be tucked up in bed that early. This seems to be a forgotten aspect of the locally implemented rules It's NOT an Alert level 3 requirement, as far as I can see and the governor has the power to scrap it.
     
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  4. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    Sorry to have missed this. My business in tourism is not here, it's in South Korea (which by now is way-behind Phil in opening-up, amazingly). My wife's bakery biz here, depends on a healthy local econ in-general. International tourists expect to Party Hearty on nights out in Dumaguete?? Does this just mean the WhyNot Disco...? Or what? (what wild times am I missing-out on?). I would imagine that some linger at bars on the Boulevard, chatting quietly, okay. But I'd think that for most of them, drinking at the bar in their Dauin resort is the only midnight indulgence.... and urban curfew doesn't affect that.
     
  5. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    The Philippines really only sees 2 types of tourists: the diver and the sexpat. One shouldn't be drinking much and won't mind the curfew if they are actually here to dive, the other depends on alcohol to numb the abuse they have experienced in their lives and to excuse the abuse they are dishing out. They are going to care a lot...withdrawal is a serious concern for them.

    You also have your resident long stay tourist (which may also be a diver and/or a sexpat) but they aren't going to mind since they know how to get around the rules. And then you have your backpackers...but they don't matter because their entire goal is to spend as little money as possible. Nobody should care how backpacker's will react to the rules.
     
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  6. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    Hey, just yesterday at Pulang-bato Falls, saw this 30ish couple, went up and questioned them (introducing myself as a curious tourism professor), and YES they are French, "here on vacation", neither divers nor sexpats, they found this little-known great resort just by poking around on the net, hired a taxi, were loving it, along with the lower Hot Springs -- Genuine Foreign TOURISTS, Yaaaayyyyyyy...! Maybe the first I've seen in two years...!!
    RedRocks-20220227-Masons-09.jpg
     
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  7. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    By the way, me & the asawa enjoying the falls on Sunday (sorry not yesterday)...
    RedRocks-20220227-Masons-01.jpg RedRocks-20220227-Masons-03.jpg
     
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  8. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    SAY, it's getting near time to fly... Does anyone know if that TRAZE app is still needed to be installed on my phone....?
     
  9. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    We were at the hot springs Sunday as well. Looks like we just missed a big rock slide on the road going up there on Monday.
     
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  10. mntnwolf

    mntnwolf DI Member

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    Yes, we missed it by about 12 hours, it seems!
    RedRocks-20220227-Masons-16.jpg RedRocks-20220227-Masons-17.jpg
     
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