A recent visit to Dublin was rather eye-opening in regards to the different responses to Covid-19 either side of the border.
On a pretty full double-decker bus on a Saturday evening, the use of face coverings by passengers appeared close to 100%.
This is only anecdotal, but anyone using a Metro bus in Belfast today would likely see a starkly different picture.
The Republic is at a much better starting point than Northern Ireland when it comes to managing the pandemic this winter - when the health service usually comes under the most strain.
Around 90% of over-12s are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the south, whereas in Northern Ireland the figure is 84% for a first dose.
While Stormont is still debating domestic vaccine passports for entry to venues and won't enforce their use until mid-December at the earliest, the Republic introduced them back in July.
And yet despite this, the Irish government has still had to extend the use of vaccine certificates and introduce further restrictions this week.
Irish government figures are also not ruling out further restrictions in the weeks ahead.
This does not bode well for the Stormont Executive, which is facing tough decisions as ministers convene on Wednesday.
Mandatory vaccine passports are top of the agenda, but a modelling paper warns more "severe" rules may be needed from next month.
The concern in both jurisdictions is not solely about rising infection rates, but the proportion of those cases that translate into hospitalisations - potentially overwhelming the health service.
Unvaccinated people feature disproportionately among the number of seriously ill Covid patients in hospitals. There is also concern over waning immunity from the jabs.
Ambulances being diverted away from Craigavon Area Hospital for two periods within 24 hours this week showed once again how Northern Ireland's struggling health system has little leeway to cope with increased stresses.
While most Executive parties look set to support introducing mandatory Covid passports, a question mark remains over the DUP's response.
Several senior figures have voiced opposition, but DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he had an "open mind" to the idea and would need to see the details.
DUP ministers could abstain or vote against the proposals. Party sources do not believe they will use a cross-community veto to block the measures, following a backlash over using it last year to delay restrictions.
Health Minister Robin Swann earlier this week said that "now is the time" for a phased introduction of Covid passports.
But comparing the approach with the Republic, many will see the measures as too little too late - and as only the beginning of a new round of winter restrictions.
