Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[jjenny]

"At least 29 cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been reported across 11 states — 7 cases in California, 1 in New Jersey in a Georgia resident, 1 in Utah, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Maryland, 6 in Nebraska, 1 in Hawaii, 5 in New York and1 in Minnesota."

Omicron COVID-19 variant found in 11 states as Delta variant cases are rising - CBS News

 

[CoverMeCagney]

"At least 29 cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been reported across 11 states — 7 cases in California, 1 in New Jersey in a Georgia resident, 1 in Utah, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Maryland, 6 in Nebraska, 1 in Hawaii, 5 in New York and1 in Minnesota."

Omicron COVID-19 variant found in 11 states as Delta variant cases are rising - CBS News

This gave me flashbacks - remove Omicron from the sentence and you've basically got a rehash of February 2020!

 

[10ofRods]

It's so saddening that US death rates remain over 1000 people per day at this point in time. I can remember when some of us said it looked like it was going to remain high for a long time (and it has), and others said "no way, this will run its course in a year or so."

Vaccination rates for the US as a whole should be much better. It's free. Moderna and Pfizer are extraordinarily effective. There are virtually no side effects. A person is more likely to get COVID and have serious consequences (death or long COVID or organ damage) than they are to get diphtheria, and yet nearly everyone is vaccinated with DPT.

It's been very hard to watch. Last few days, our average is about 1400 deaths per day. So, by New Year's, we'll have another 32,000 people dead. It's unbelievable (and nearly all of those will be the unvaccinated). Michigan alone has the equivalent of 600 deaths (if it were the size of California). Same with Tennessee, roughly. If Pennsylvania had the high population of California, it would have the equivalent of 350 deaths. California is averaging around 90-100.

If the predicted winter surge occurs, hospitals could once again be overwhelmed and those of us trying to get basic healthcare will again be denied priority.

The weather across the nation has not been cold. Several places are setting records for warm weather for this time of year. Soon, though, people will be driven indoors more and more by cold. It's also been dry (COVID circulates better in dry climates).

I appreciate all of you for being so vigilant. I had to stop out of posting on these threads for a while, as it was too distressing. I feel as if you are elite troops in the media battle over COVID, but the frustration I was feeling about all these deaths turned into a kind of depression. I'm going back to work in the real world in one month, it's very anxiety-producing but our satellite campus (where I will be) has had no cases and I'm lucky to be posted there. I am now actively planning for retirement and watching younger colleagues struggle (so anxiety producing). Our online classes have high enrollments for Spring, but throughout California, college administrators are forcing faculty to do real world classes (which are terribly under enrolled - they are letting them go with 3 or 5 people in some cases). And my colleagues tell me that their entire classes of real world students are unvaccinated. The other, vaccinated students do not want to sit in class with unvaccinated people. I am going to have to be so tough about protocols (rigid, really, as I know how students are) and it's not fun or easy for teachers right now.

I am lucky that the subject I teach involves a great deal of content about natural selection, diseases, pandemics, etc. And basic genetics (including RNA). So hopefully I can convince the unvaccinated students I'll be meeting on Jan 10 to get vaccinated. I sure hope so.

 

[SouthAussie]

Palmer says her team found Omicron may have been created by what's called a "recombination" – a supercharged love child of the early Alpha variant plus Delta, something that has not been found in SARS-CoV-2 until now.

It may be that so many mutations improve our understanding of the virus or represent the "full flush" of what it's capable of.

Maybe so many mutations are catastrophic and the virus can't survive.

"The question is when do we reach a point where there are no new mutations, just new combinations? We will then have a bit of a handle on this virus in terms of its evolution," Bennett says.

'We're very, very concerned': The surprising Australian theory about Omicron

 

[LadyL]

People carried signs saying: "I will decide for myself", "Make Austria Great Again", and "New Elections" - a nod to the political turmoil that has seen three chancellors within two months

More than 40,000 march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown

 

[jjenny]

"At least 29 cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been reported across 11 states — 7 cases in California, 1 in New Jersey in a Georgia resident, 1 in Utah, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Maryland, 6 in Nebraska, 1 in Hawaii, 5 in New York and1 in Minnesota."

Omicron COVID-19 variant found in 11 states as Delta variant cases are rising - CBS News

This gave me flashbacks - remove Omicron from the sentence and you've basically got a rehash of February 2020!

Yep, it seems like we are right back where we started.

 

[jjenny]

People carried signs saying: "I will decide for myself", "Make Austria Great Again", and "New Elections" - a nod to the political turmoil that has seen three chancellors within two months

More than 40,000 march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown

What a great idea to assemble by the thousands during a pandemic. Were they all hugging and kissing?

 

[10ofRods]

Gee, this virus breaks through even the boosters. We must mask up!

5 people in NorCal contract omicron linked to Wisconsin wedding | KTLA

At least five people in Northern California have contracted the omicron variant of the coronavirus, and the outbreak is linked to a wedding in Wisconsin last month, public health officials said Friday.
...

The five people who have confirmed omicron cases are part of a group of 12 vaccinated people in Alameda County who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Alameda County Department of Public Health. They are linked to a Nov. 27 wedding in Wisconsin, “which one of these individuals attended upon return from international travel,” the agency said.
...
The people were vaccinated and have “mildly symptomatic cases.” Genomic sequencing for the remaining seven cases has not yet been completed.
...
Officials said “most” of the 12 people had received boosters; they are between 18 and 49 years old.
...

I'm guessing on this one that it's related to initial viral load. An indoor wedding and reception in Wisconsin would be the perfect storm, with all the laughing and crowding around and even dancing. If the reception lasted 3 hours and people traveled a long way for a kind of reunion experience, I can just see how thoroughly the air must have been loaded with omicron (which already is known to produce more virions in the nasal passages). So not only are the vaccinated now at risk (but with mild to moderate symptoms), but the vaccinated can transmit more readily than with other variants. Vaccination lowers our ability to transmit, but not entirely.

Glad the symptoms of these 5 are mild - that's very encouraging. I'm so glad we still have indoor mask mandates here (although more and more, people are ignoring them).

 

[CrimeAway]

@10ofRods, I've always been interested in science and medicine, but I've learned so much more since this pandemic has started.

I know I've shared a lot of TWIV stuff on here, not because I always agree with them 100% (e.g. boosters), but because I find their logical approach enlightening. If any of your students are interested, Vincent Racaniello - Wikipedia has a free virology course (Virology Live) on his YouTube channel:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCyFgCoP4ovsHbt92vM4zN2A

Another TWIV participant, Brianne Barker, Drew University
has some of her immunology lectures up online:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCDEPnp74w9CcqrndYIU7G8A/videos

 

[jjenny]

"The Minnesota man who contracted the omicron variant of the coronavirus met up with about 35 friends at a New York City anime convention and about half have now tested positive for the coronavirus, a state health official said Friday."
Friends who attended convention with Minnesotan with omicron have coronavirus, official says - StarTribune.com

 

[mickey2942]

@10ofRods in a way, working full time during the pandemic has helped me be more vigilant about masking, social distancing, and staying healthy.

You will probably have an acrylic barrier? That is the best thing ever. I have no idea if the people I see are vaccinated or not. And, since this whole Covid, I have been working full-time, plus my kids all worked. None of us have had Covid. That includes my daughter in college.

I think that you will be okay.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I want to see how this plays out- seems in GB, people have free home tests just "lying around." Here in the US, up until now, you had to buy them yourself or my county would mail you one if you "jumped through some hoops." I want to see if they become more readily available; if you only get reimbursed after buying and using them, etc. There are more employers and schools requiring tests, so maybe they will just be more common. I did see a mobile testing trailer in a neighboring town set up to administer free tests and they are testing our legislators.

V true. I ordered a pack of 7 on Thursday afternoon and they arrived Friday. It has become v normal here for us to self test.

 

[weepingangel]

V true. I ordered a pack of 7 on Thursday afternoon and they arrived Friday. It has become v normal here for us to self test.

I just ordered a two pack from Walmart $15. First time I’ve ever bought them. supposed to be here early next week. Closer to 23-25$ at drug stores I understand

 

[CrimeAway]

V true. I ordered a pack of 7 on Thursday afternoon and they arrived Friday. It has become v normal here for us to self test.

Jealous over here in the US

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Jealous over here in the US

They are handy. For instance Mr HKP had some one to one training last week and both he and the other guy tested at home before. If we do see my parents at Christmas at all we will all test.

The flip side is I dont have total faith in them and ofc not everyone plays ball anyway. But they are generally a v good thing.

 

[weepingangel]

Omicron COVID variant case identified in Massachusetts, health officials say

 

[SouthAussie]

Reinfection among people who have been previously infected with COVID-19 appears to be more common with omicron than with earlier variants ...

... a part of omicron's genetic code is also present in another virus, possibly one that causes the common cold. Researchers speculate this mutation could cause the virus to be more contagious but less deadly.

Omicron variant in more states; delta surge continues: COVID updates

 

[SouthAussie]

The World Health Organization recommends that people who:

are not fully vaccinated
have not previously been infected
are 60 years or older
or have comorbidities such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes

should postpone travel to areas with community transmission.

Omicron Is Here. Should You Cancel Your Trip?

 

[jjenny]

Which areas don't have community transmission?

 

[Satchie]

Which areas don't have community transmission?

British Virgin Islands don't have any cases. Hmmm, white sand, turquoise sea, palm trees whispering in the breeze.

But it could all change in a week.