Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[Grouse]

ug... video confirms all my worst suspicions and the 11 day lead time to detection makes me think that this is already all over the world.

I agree. Totally impractical I know, but given this has happened despite the incredible speed they acted with in South Africa, it makes me wonder if the only way we will conquer this is to have a total ban on international travel, or learn to live with it and accept it like we do influenza.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I had read that it was 2 flights, and ~600 people total, so around 10% tested positive. I would imagine that more passengers will test positive in the coming days. I saw several unmasked people in the photos from the Daily Mail

Dozens of passengers who arrived in Holland from South Africa 'test positive for Covid' | Daily Mail Online

Very worrying. Schiphol is the busiest airport in Europe. Coincidentally, I read a bizarre story about it the other day:

Pig patrol: Amsterdam airport’s innovative approach to flight safety

 

[CrimeAway]

I don't think we know yet if the 61 are the new variant do we?

This BBC article seems to confirm that they don't know if the positives are the new variant yet.

I can't figure out how to copy the paragraph on my phone, but here's a link, and SS.

Covid: Dozens test positive on SA-Netherlands flights

 

[Grouse]

This BBC article seems to confirm that they don't know if the positives are the new variant yet.

I can't figure out how to copy the paragraph on my phone, but here's a link, and SS.

Covid: Dozens test positive on SA-Netherlands flights

Shouldn't take them long, I posted earlier about how the new variant shows up on current PCR tests before they've done the genome sequencing.

Yes, selecting text to copy and paste can be a bit fiddly on some phones can't it?

 

[acutename]

so did these people become infected on the flight? no testing prior? they were vaccinated? does anyone know what was required to board? Also, how big are those flights? how many passengers total?

Dutch authorities said 61 of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant. read more

UK, Germany and Italy detect Omicron variant cases, Israel closes borders

 

[acutename]

Dutch authorities said 61 of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant. read more

UK, Germany and Italy detect Omicron variant cases, Israel closes borders

A KLM spokesperson told Reuters that passengers had shown proof of vaccination or a preflight negative test before boarding flights in Cape Town or Johannesburg.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/27/amsterdam-omicron-covid-variant-lockdown/

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Bit silly that they’re allowing passengers to fly without a test if they’re double vaxxed. It’s blatantly obvious that vaccines are not 100% effective, and that their efficacy wanes after a few months.

 

[Grouse]

I've been really disappointed in people's selfish attitudes over the last 2 years.

RSBM.

Yes I have as well. The worst in my opinion was when all the hoarding and stocking up began in 2020. People with supermarket trollies piled high with things they didn't need causing others to suffer. Watching this nurse who had just finished an extended 48 hour shift and couldn't buy food was heartbreaking

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Whatever lies ahead in the coming months I pray they don't sink that low again.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Still catching up in here, but wanted to thank you @LaborDayRN for posting this - I would love to hear what Dr. Campbell has to say about all this.

You're so welcome @margarita25
He's a wealth of knowledge. I thought this video had a great deal of important information.

 

[LaborDayRN]

ug... video confirms all my worst suspicions and the 11 day lead time to detection makes me think that this is already all over the world.

Yes, unfortunately there is no need to shut the barn door. The horse is already out!

 

[JayWill]

RSBM.

Yes I have as well. The worst in my opinion was when all the hoarding and stocking up began in 2020. People with supermarket trollies piled high with things they didn't need causing others to suffer. Watching this nurse who had just finished an extended 48 hour shift and couldn't buy food was heartbreaking

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Whatever lies ahead in the coming months I pray they don't sink that low again.

I have a friend, 75 years old whose laundry door would only open enough to let her slide in because it was full of washing powder, toilet rolls and all kinds of dry foods. She bought another freezer to store all the meat and frozen goods she had purchased.
She is a real stickler for throwing things out on the day that they reach best by, and I predict that half of what she has hoarded will be wasted.

 

[LaborDayRN]

So, I'm back to having major anxiety like I was having in March of 2020 and beyond. This new variant sounds bad.

Husband and I were fully vaxxed as of the second week of Sept. so I don't think we are able to get a booster yet.

Are you guys thinking this is going to be super bad? Curious to hear from all of you smart Websleuths people that have been my go-to during this.

I don't think we know yet. It seems to be highly transmissible but what we know yet is if it causes a more serious illness than other variants.
I'm hoping it causes a milder disease. That way if lot's of people who haven't been vaccinated come down with it, it will only cause mild illness but will give them natural immunity and we'll come out ahead of the game.
One can dream right?
IMO the best thing to do right now is continue with the precautions we've all be following. Wear a mask, wash your hands, get vaccinated if you haven't and avoid large groups.

 

[HawthorneJuniper]

Dr. Fauci recommends getting a booster as soon as eligible. Waiting with waning protection is not a good idea. It will take a while (if ever) for variant specific vaccines to be approved.

Agree. Getting mine Monday. A strain specific booster won't be available for a while and until then more protection will always be better than less.

Really glad I never made winter travel plans. Husband wanted to book flights a while back. No way am I flying. We flew last May back from CA after driving out from MA with our son. I splurged on 1st class and got the first row, wore 2 masks and never took them off except to sneak a sip of water. We still may travel March-end of April but we'll just have to drive. So it's a question of how much we want to get away. Enough to drive to Tucson? Not sure yet but the plows were out today. That doesn't portend well.

 

[Lilibet]

I'm curious about what others think. Is the pandemic better or worse than you were picturing?

Definitely worse than I imagined, but like you, I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. And even being prepared and super-careful, my dh and I were both found by Covid.

Seeing NYC in such bad shape really made me see how bad it could get.

The death toll has been beyond what I could have imagined on my own without listening to experts.

But above all, what I naively did not expect was the level of angry resistance to every public health measure, from social distancing to masks to the vaccine. And the conspiracy theories! Totally nuts! It’s like some evil force has possessed people. So now, nothing will surprise me.

 

[Lilibet]

This website saved me a LOT of stress and anxiety by sharing information and being prepared when most people weren't even paying attention. I'll always be grateful to my Websleuths family for that peace of mind and the outlet it provided (and still provides) during this unprecedented (in my time, anyway) event.

Yes! Yay Websleuths and thank you everyone for your contributions since Feb. 2020!

 

[Turkeytrot]

South African doctor says omicron variant symptoms ‘unusual but mild’

• "It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well," Coetzee explained. "So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home."
• Most of the patients were men who reported "feeling so tired," and half of them were unvaccinated. The patients comprised a range of ages and ethnicities.
• Coetzee started briefing other African medical associations on Saturday, discussing the variety of symptoms, such as "one very interesting case" of a six-year-old child with a fever and "very high pulse rate."

 

[ilovewings]

Definitely worse than I imagined, but like you, I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. And even being prepared and super-careful, my dh and I were both found by Covid.

Seeing NYC in such bad shape really made me see how bad it could get.

The death toll has been beyond what I could have imagined on my own without listening to experts.

But above all, what I naively did not expect was the level of angry resistance to every public health measure, from social distancing to masks to the vaccine. And the conspiracy theories! Totally nuts! It’s like some evil force has possessed people. So now, nothing will surprise me.

I hear ya! and these idiots are ruining it for people who are doing the right thing. It is so bizarre that. for example, nurses who have to get all kinds of vaccines for their employment, won't get the Covid vaccine: same for the military, cops and firefighters. What is wrong with these people? it would not be so bad, if what they did only affected them, but that is obviously not the case.

 

[LaborDayRN]

South African doctor says omicron variant symptoms ‘unusual but mild’

• "It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well," Coetzee explained. "So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home."
• Most of the patients were men who reported "feeling so tired," and half of them were unvaccinated. The patients comprised a range of ages and ethnicities.
• Coetzee started briefing other African medical associations on Saturday, discussing the variety of symptoms, such as "one very interesting case" of a six-year-old child with a fever and "very high pulse rate."

Well if accurate this is decidedly good news!

 

[CrimeAway]

Bit silly that they’re allowing passengers to fly without a test if they’re double vaxxed. It’s blatantly obvious that vaccines are not 100% effective, and that their efficacy wanes after a few months.

Thanks @CoverMeCagney and I generally agree with you. I do want to be pedantic about one thing though

It's my understanding that the vaccines were originally tested on their efficacy to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, not necessarily to prevent infection

Initially, they also provided robust efficacy against infection, but that does seem to have dropped. Antibody levels have also dropped, which is normal after vaccination IMO.

I just think that it is important to note what we are discussing efficacy against. I think MSM has done a horrible job of this, and it has potentially led to a loss of faith in vaccines.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Dutch authorities said 61 of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant. read more

UK, Germany and Italy detect Omicron variant cases, Israel closes borders

Did those flights and airports require masks like they do at US airports?