Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #3
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Hong Kong sounded the alert, UK analyzed it, and now we wait and see whether it is stoppable.
"The first case was uploaded to international variant database GISAID by Hong Kong on November 23. The person carrying the new variant was travelling to the country from South Africa.
The UK was the first country to identify that the virus could be a threat and alerted other nations.
Since then, 77 cases have been confirmed in South Africa, two in Hong Kong and three in Botswana.
...
Data on how transmissible the new variant is and its effect on hospitalisations and deaths is still weeks away.
The UK has offered help to South Africa, where most of the cases are concentrated, to gather this information and believe they will know more about transmissibility in two to three weeks.
But it may be four to six weeks until they know more about hospitalisations and deaths.
...
Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, told MailOnline the virus likely emerged in a lingering infection in an immunocompromised patient, possibly someone with undiagnosed AIDS.
In patients with weakened immune systems infections can linger for months because the body is unable to fight it off. This gives the virus time to acquire mutations that allow it to get around the body's defences."
Botswana Covid variant has twice as many mutations as Delta - what we know so far | Daily Mail Online
"The first case was uploaded to international variant database GISAID by Hong Kong on November 23. The person carrying the new variant was travelling to the country from South Africa.
The UK was the first country to identify that the virus could be a threat and alerted other nations.
Since then, 77 cases have been confirmed in South Africa, two in Hong Kong and three in Botswana.
...
Data on how transmissible the new variant is and its effect on hospitalisations and deaths is still weeks away.
The UK has offered help to South Africa, where most of the cases are concentrated, to gather this information and believe they will know more about transmissibility in two to three weeks.
But it may be four to six weeks until they know more about hospitalisations and deaths.
...
Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, told MailOnline the virus likely emerged in a lingering infection in an immunocompromised patient, possibly someone with undiagnosed AIDS.
In patients with weakened immune systems infections can linger for months because the body is unable to fight it off. This gives the virus time to acquire mutations that allow it to get around the body's defences."
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Grateful to have received a bumper shot this morning! rbbm.
Hong Kong confirms two cases of virulent new COVID-19 variant, one of which travelled from Canada | National Post
''A traveller from South Africa was found to have the variant — B.1.1.529, dubbed Omicron — while the other case was identified in a person who had travelled from Canada and was quarantined in the hotel room opposite his , the Hong Kong government said late Thursday. The traveller from South Africa used a mask with a valve that doesn’t filter exhaled air and may have transmitted the virus to his neighbour when the hotel room door was open, a health department spokesperson said Friday.''
''Twelve people who were staying in rooms close to the two Hong Kong cases are now undergoing compulsory 14-day quarantines at a government facility, according to the statement out Thursday.
Global authorities around the world have already reacted with alarm Friday to the new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with the EU and Britain among those tightening border controls as researchers seek to determine whether the mutation was vaccine-resistant.''
Hong Kong confirms two cases of virulent new COVID-19 variant, one of which travelled from Canada | National Post
''A traveller from South Africa was found to have the variant — B.1.1.529, dubbed Omicron — while the other case was identified in a person who had travelled from Canada and was quarantined in the hotel room opposite his , the Hong Kong government said late Thursday. The traveller from South Africa used a mask with a valve that doesn’t filter exhaled air and may have transmitted the virus to his neighbour when the hotel room door was open, a health department spokesperson said Friday.''
''Twelve people who were staying in rooms close to the two Hong Kong cases are now undergoing compulsory 14-day quarantines at a government facility, according to the statement out Thursday.
Global authorities around the world have already reacted with alarm Friday to the new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with the EU and Britain among those tightening border controls as researchers seek to determine whether the mutation was vaccine-resistant.''
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The new variant has a name and it is a variant of concern.
"The World Health Organization has declared the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa as a variant of concern and named it omicron.
WHO's technical working group met on Friday to assess the new B.1.1.529 variant and decide whether it should be deemed a variant of concern or a variant of interest. Variant of concern is the more serious of the two designations.
...
It becomes a variant of concern when there's evidence that increased transmission or increased severity of disease may be happening, or that public health measures, vaccination or treatments may have decreased effectiveness against it.
...
In addition, he said the discovery of a new variant shows the importance of ensuring everyone in the world has access to the vaccine, because variants originate among unvaccinated people.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/world-health-organization-b-1-1-529-variant-south-africa-1.6263826
"The World Health Organization has declared the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa as a variant of concern and named it omicron.
WHO's technical working group met on Friday to assess the new B.1.1.529 variant and decide whether it should be deemed a variant of concern or a variant of interest. Variant of concern is the more serious of the two designations.
...
It becomes a variant of concern when there's evidence that increased transmission or increased severity of disease may be happening, or that public health measures, vaccination or treatments may have decreased effectiveness against it.
...
In addition, he said the discovery of a new variant shows the importance of ensuring everyone in the world has access to the vaccine, because variants originate among unvaccinated people.
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Travel ban to reduce possibility of new variant entering Canada. I'm not optimistic that Canada will do enough. During every step of this pandemic, Canada has been unable to prevent new viruses from spreading.
"Canada will be banning the entry of all foreign nationals who have travelled through southern Africa in the last 14 days as concerns over a new coronavirus variant grow.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said individuals who have travelled through southern Africa in the last 14 days and are currently in Canada are being asked to quarantine now and to go for a COVID-19 test.
The countries include South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
...
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said there are currently no direct flights from the region to Canada.
...
Tam said it is “very difficult” to keep the mutation out of Canada “entirely.”
“The border is never 100 per cent, but each layer provides an additional layer of protection,” she said.
While the travel ban currently only covers seven countries, Alghabra said officials will continue to monitor data from around the world as well as from tests conducted at the border.
...
“Preliminary evidence suggests and increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs,” a press release reads.
According to the WHO, the number of cases of this variant “appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa,”
Canada bans travellers from southern Africa as concerns mount over coronavirus variant
"Canada will be banning the entry of all foreign nationals who have travelled through southern Africa in the last 14 days as concerns over a new coronavirus variant grow.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said individuals who have travelled through southern Africa in the last 14 days and are currently in Canada are being asked to quarantine now and to go for a COVID-19 test.
The countries include South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
...
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said there are currently no direct flights from the region to Canada.
...
Tam said it is “very difficult” to keep the mutation out of Canada “entirely.”
“The border is never 100 per cent, but each layer provides an additional layer of protection,” she said.
While the travel ban currently only covers seven countries, Alghabra said officials will continue to monitor data from around the world as well as from tests conducted at the border.
...
“Preliminary evidence suggests and increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs,” a press release reads.
According to the WHO, the number of cases of this variant “appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa,”
Canada bans travellers from southern Africa as concerns mount over coronavirus variant
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rbbm.
Ottawa issues travel restrictions on flights from southern Africa in wake of new variant of concern
''Effective immediately, the federal government will be prohibiting all foreign nationals who stayed in South Africa in the past 14 days from entering Canada.
Countries affected by the travel ban include South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Eswaitini, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Namibia.
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said restrictions will not be imposed on other countries right now but the government will closely monitor the situation.''
Ottawa issues travel restrictions on flights from southern Africa in wake of new variant of concern
''Effective immediately, the federal government will be prohibiting all foreign nationals who stayed in South Africa in the past 14 days from entering Canada.
Countries affected by the travel ban include South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Eswaitini, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Namibia.
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said restrictions will not be imposed on other countries right now but the government will closely monitor the situation.''
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I think everyone is feeling the same way. We were all hopeful that by doing the right thing, getting vaccinated, being cautious, we could beat this.
Today's news suggests that the virus mutates best in people with long term acquired illnesses. Unvaccinated people seem to be the incubators for mutations. A full stop on international travel would stop the virus, but that will never happen.
It seems like we're starting all over with the same ineffective method as March 2020. People who may be infected self-isolate, but, not everyone is honest so some will find a way around the rules. Entire populations become infected, then more lockdowns.
Today's news suggests that the virus mutates best in people with long term acquired illnesses. Unvaccinated people seem to be the incubators for mutations. A full stop on international travel would stop the virus, but that will never happen.
It seems like we're starting all over with the same ineffective method as March 2020. People who may be infected self-isolate, but, not everyone is honest so some will find a way around the rules. Entire populations become infected, then more lockdowns.
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Ten percent of passengers who provided negative test (per flight regulations) tested positive 24 hours later. Test problems, or a shorter incubation time between infection and illness?
"Around 600 passengers arrived on two planes in Schipol Airport, near Amsterdam, from Johannesburg — the epicentre for the new strain that experts fear is 40 per cent more vaccine evasive than Delta — hours after travel bans were put in place.
Some 61 of those on the planes tested positive for the virus on PCR tests after they were stopped at the airport, despite having to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 24 hours before boarding the flight.
...
It raises the prospect that tests are not being performed correctly for travellers in South Africa, fraudulent tests are being provided or lateral flow tests may be less able to detect the Omicorn variant.
Dozens of passengers who arrived in Holland from South Africa 'test positive for Covid' | Daily Mail Online
"Around 600 passengers arrived on two planes in Schipol Airport, near Amsterdam, from Johannesburg — the epicentre for the new strain that experts fear is 40 per cent more vaccine evasive than Delta — hours after travel bans were put in place.
Some 61 of those on the planes tested positive for the virus on PCR tests after they were stopped at the airport, despite having to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 24 hours before boarding the flight.
...
It raises the prospect that tests are not being performed correctly for travellers in South Africa, fraudulent tests are being provided or lateral flow tests may be less able to detect the Omicorn variant.
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rbbm.
Israel to ban entry of foreigners from all countries over Omicron COVID-19 variant
''JERUSALEM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Israel on Saturday said it would ban the entry of all foreigners into the country, making it the first country to shut its borders completely in response to a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant, and said it would use counter-terrorism phone-tracking technology in order to contain the spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that the ban, pending government approval, would last 14 days. Officials hope that within that period there will be more information on how effective COVID-19 vaccines are against Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa and has been dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization.
"Our working hypotheses are that the variant is already in nearly every country," Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told N12's "Meet the Press," "and that the vaccine is effective, although we don't yet know to what degree."
Israel to ban entry of foreigners from all countries over Omicron COVID-19 variant
''JERUSALEM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Israel on Saturday said it would ban the entry of all foreigners into the country, making it the first country to shut its borders completely in response to a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant, and said it would use counter-terrorism phone-tracking technology in order to contain the spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that the ban, pending government approval, would last 14 days. Officials hope that within that period there will be more information on how effective COVID-19 vaccines are against Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa and has been dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization.
"Our working hypotheses are that the variant is already in nearly every country," Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told N12's "Meet the Press," "and that the vaccine is effective, although we don't yet know to what degree."
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"The government of Ontario today announced two individuals in Ottawa tested positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant with recent travel from Nigeria.
...
To reduce the transmission of the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, Ottawa Public Health advises individuals who have been in Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Namibia, within 14 days before arriving in Ottawa, AND members of their households to:
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)...
To reduce the transmission of the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, Ottawa Public Health advises individuals who have been in Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Namibia, within 14 days before arriving in Ottawa, AND members of their households to:
- Immediately self-isolate even if fully vaccinated.
- Seek testing for COVID-19
- Isolate from household members. For example, stay in a separate room or stay in an isolation centre until receiving a negative test result.
There are probably dozens of other mutations that just never survived long enough to be efficient at avoiding immune detection or were just not capable of inducing the pathogenicity of the established COVID variants.
We really don't know enough about Omicron to know if it is a significant risk or not.
It does seem to be quite contagious and passing from one person to another, unnoticed, if the reports from Canada, Germany, Czech, Netherlands, UK are credible.
But we don't really know if it really causes the severe COVID panoply of microembolic disease with loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath, etc.
It could be very contagious, but not very strong at inducing the severe respiratory disease that has killed so many.
Still weeks away from that data.
We really don't know enough about Omicron to know if it is a significant risk or not.
It does seem to be quite contagious and passing from one person to another, unnoticed, if the reports from Canada, Germany, Czech, Netherlands, UK are credible.
But we don't really know if it really causes the severe COVID panoply of microembolic disease with loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath, etc.
It could be very contagious, but not very strong at inducing the severe respiratory disease that has killed so many.
Still weeks away from that data.
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Perhaps it is more contagious amongst unvaccinated people, but less lethal to vaccinated people? ... perhaps giving more severe symptoms than the Delta variant? South Africa announced big jumps in numbers of infected people but did not specify whether they were vaccinated.
The WHO said that other countries should not limit travel with highly infected countries. That's how this all started, with the virus isolated in China and the WHO sitting back for too long before declaring a pandemic, always endorsing open borders.
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I remember the beginning when Canada decided that it could manage the virus by tracking incoming visitors and residents. That sure backfired when the gov't realized that not everyone is honest - in fact so dishonest that vaccinations became like wearing seatbelts - regulation and monitoring required at all borders and shops.
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The UK seems to be saying 40% reduced vaccine effectiveness - not sure whether that's Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, pills, or everything. What's the booster situation? Wait to see whether the booster addresses the new variant of concern? What about people who have already had a booster? How long to wait between that booster and the Omicron booster?
What a mess of experimental vaccinations!
What a mess of experimental vaccinations!
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While we await answers to many questions, it’s wise to get the booster as soon as you are eligible. IMO
No matter which new variant comes along, the vaccine is effective against the SARS COVID virus. Viruses mutate and will continue to do so until it either burns itself out or runs out of hosts.
The booster will increase your immune response against any/all variants to varying degrees.
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