Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[LadyL]

so this is fun ... this is my hood:

London has largest probable Omicron cluster in country

 

[MimosaMornings]

This travel insurance will fly you home if you test positive for COVID-19 — here's how it works — The Points Guy


"Combative passenger" allegedly assaulted flight attendant, air marshal on Delta flight

 

[Skigh]

Omicron-hotspot London is suffering the FASTEST growth in cases of all England's regions | Daily Mail Online

Omicron already makes up 30 PER CENT of all new Covid cases in London as figures show capital has country's FASTEST growing outbreak with infections up in ALL of city's 32 boroughs and hospitalisation rates now starting to creep up

• Department of Health figures show London's infection rate is rising at its fastest rate in five months
• And infections are ticking up in every borough of the capital. Each has at least one suspected Omicron case
• Public health chiefs said they were taking the situation 'extremely seriously' on the ground
• But warned Omicron could become dominant in weeks. In Scotland it could be dominant in ten days

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Omicron variant cases found in 25 states. Most are mild, CDC says (nbcnews.com)

The report offers an early glimpse into how the new Covid strain might behave in infected individuals, though experts stress it's still too early to draw conclusions.

The first handful of omicron cases in the United States have been mostly mild, with most patients reporting symptoms such as cough or a runny nose, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings, published Friday, offer an early glimpse into how people might fare against the heavily mutated Covid-19 variant, now in at least 25 states, though health experts stress it's still too early to draw any strong conclusions on how it will spread in the country.

The agency's five-page report looked at 43 people in the U.S. with a confirmed case of the new strain, one of whom was hospitalized. More than half of the people were young, between the ages of 18 and 39...

 

[jjenny]

Yes, I do realize that the booster not effective against omicron. But traveling to Sweden, so I thought I'd get my booster before than. And when a booster for this omicron variant comes out - I'll get another one. All my shots have been with Moderna - and all with little side effects - thankfully!!

For sure it's a good idea to get a booster before you travel. All three of my shots also were with Moderna. I had side effects (especially with 2nd and 3rd) but nothing too awful.

 

[jjenny]

Here is a "fun" story about a covid infected wedding. Even if everybody is vaxxed it is still risky to assemble in large groups.

"The bride and groom left immediately from the wedding on a honeymoon overseas. They tested positive and are still in a 14-day quarantine."

Omicron in Oakland: How a 'safe wedding' in Wisconsin with vaccinated people led to outbreak - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

 

[weepingangel]

This is safe ?? Not to me. Not at this point in time. I assume this wasn’t an outdoor wedding. (And no a tent isn’t outdoor imo)

there were about 100 guests, who were masked at the church and reception except while eating, drinking or dancing.

. The bride and groom left immediately from the wedding on a honeymoon overseas. They tested positive and are still in a 14-day quarantine.

Here is a "fun" story about a covid infected wedding. Even if everybody is vaxxed it is still risky to assemble in large groups.

"The bride and groom left immediately from the wedding on a honeymoon overseas. They tested positive and are still in a 14-day quarantine."

Omicron in Oakland: How a 'safe wedding' in Wisconsin with vaccinated people led to outbreak - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

 

[jjenny]

Yea, wearing masks except while eating, drinking or dancing isn't exactly safe. Some magical power doesn't protect someone when that someone is eating, dancing or drinking.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Here is a "fun" story about a covid infected wedding. Even if everybody is vaxxed it is still risky to assemble in large groups.

"The bride and groom left immediately from the wedding on a honeymoon overseas. They tested positive and are still in a 14-day quarantine."

Omicron in Oakland: How a 'safe wedding' in Wisconsin with vaccinated people led to outbreak - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

I’m not surprised. Of course it isnt “safe” to gather indoors with a large group without a mask/social distancing.
Even if you’re vaccinated. Even if you take that rapid test which doesn’t seem reliable unless you have symptoms.

And of course the bride/groom are positive. On a plane overseas no less.
JMO

 

[MajorHoople]

Michigan hospitals are being overwhelmed as the early signs of Covid surge begin to form | Daily Mail Online

"Michigan hospitals are being swarmed by Covid patients, and many are having trouble dealing with stress put on the state's health care system.

The Great Lake state currently leads the nation in rate of Covid hospitalizations, with 46 out of every 100,000 residents currently receiving treatment for a severe case of the virus - a rate nearly 20 percent higher than any other state.

Officials from one hospital in Lansing, the state's capital city, tell CNN that almost all of the patients it is receiving at the moment are unvaccinated, and are describing it as the worst situation of the pandemic so far.

They also report that no one who has received their booster shot so far has died, and that some of the people who are being admitted for care are younger than the usual person someone would think is at risk from Covid.

Michigan also confirmed its first case of the new Omicron variant on Thursday, a harbinger of future a Covid surge to come.

While the Mitten is currently dealing with the worst of it, many states - particularly those where it is already very cold in early December - are seeing large spikes in hospitalizations.

With winter just around the corner, the upcoming Christmas holiday and the Omicron variant, some fear it could be a dark winter for much of the country."

 

[anneg]

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. – and the world

"The silver lining right now is we do not have any evidence that omicron is more severe," says Penn State's Matt Ferrari. Then again, he notes: "Everybody wants me to say it's milder, and we really just don't have convincing evidence that it is."

Even if omicron does end up being less severe than delta and not as many people get very ill, Barrett of the Wellcome Sanger Institute says there's plenty of reason for concern given just how contagious it appears to be: "A small proportion of a huge number all at once can still overwhelm health care systems."

This is especially true in a country like the U.S. where many hospitals are already filled with COVID-19 patients who are sick – not from omicron – but from delta.

 

[anneg]

Omicron has now officially arrived in my state, North Carolina (a college student). I am very concerned about this variant and how transmissible it is. It seems likely that everyone who is exposed will get it, and there will be enough cases needing hospitalization to overwhelm health care systems. MOO

I'm in my 70s and even though I'm triple vaccinated, my immune system probably isn't so great at this age.

 

[Skigh]

Vast majority of Britons have NO PROTECTION against Omicron | Daily Mail Online

Millions of Britons have effectively no protection against the Omicron Covid variant, health experts have warned as the public was urged to get their booster jabs - despite chaos on the NHS booking site meaning some can't get jabs until Christmas Eve.

The highly-transmissible mutant strain is likely to make up most cases of Covid in Britain over the next two weeks, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a report yesterday, and could reach one million infections by the end of this month.

It comes as leaked advice from the body, sent to health secretary Sajid Javid, called for 'stringent national measures' to be brought in by December 18.

While the government said there were no imminent plans for more restrictions when Plan B was announced this week, Michael Gove warned on Friday that the government had been shown 'very challenging information' about the speed of Omicron's spread at a Cobra meeting.

And while Covid booster jabs have been shown to be effective against Omicron, there are concerns that the millions of people who are yet to get their third inoculation could be unprotected against the virus without it.

Government scientists compared 581 cases of Omicron in Britain with 56,000 of Delta to give preliminary estimates of how well vaccines protect against a variant with mutations that help it evade the body’s immune response.

They found that the mostly elderly people who had two doses of AstraZeneca several months ago had almost no protection against Omicron infection, and two Pfizer doses offered little more than 30 per cent.

But a third dose, if using Pfizer, can take protection levels back up to 71 per cent in those who had AstraZeneca the first time around and 76 per cent for those who had Pfizer.

 

[Skigh]

Covid-19 UK: 'You WILL come into contact with Omicron unless you're a hermit,' expert warns | Daily Mail Online


Omicron is spreading so quickly in Britain everyone will come into contact with it 'unless you're a hermit', an expert warned today.

Professor Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, warned 'a lot of people' could still end up in hospital even if the strain proves to cause milder symptoms than Delta.

With cases of the variant doubling every three days in Britain, health chiefs are urging people to use testing and social distancing to avoid a spike in cases over Christmas.

Hospitals have already had to start shutting wards after detecting cases, with Raigmore Hospital in Inverness forced to close one of its units after a spike in infections.

Meanwhile, new rules on care homes have 'almost' returned residents to the same conditions they were in a year ago, according to care leaders.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove yesterday announced care home resident will be banned from seeing more than three named visitors this winter in order to protect them from the vaccine-evading variant.

While Covid booster jabs have been shown to be effective against Omicron, there are concerns that the millions of people who are yet to get their third inoculation could be unprotected against symptoms of the virus without it.

Officials stress two doses should still offer high protection against severe illness but even a small drop in that could trigger a surge in hopsitalisations

 

[weepingangel]

Omicron: Three vaccine doses key for protection against variant
more at link
Early analysis of UK Omicron and Delta cases showed the vaccines were less effective at stopping the new variant.

But a third booster prevents around 75% of people getting any Covid symptoms.

 

[Turkeytrot]

Being treated like the Grinch for not wanting to travel for Christmas. Sigh.

 

[ilovewings]

Being treated like the Grinch for not wanting to travel for Christmas. Sigh.

Well at least you will be a covid free grinch!!! we just gotta be careful; here in Florida not too many people wearing masks- I do at the grocery store- my husband doesn't wear a mask- sigh

 

[ilovewings]

Hi --- settling in to our condo here in Fort Myers Florida. The weather is beautiful but that long trip just takes it out of me---two days 1300 miles- Anyway- my next job is to find a hair stylist- my really great hair stylist decided to retire (at 52)- she gave me the name of someone that she says is really good but here is the fly in the ointment: I have to find out if the people that work in this salon are vaccinated and I will have to call the salon and find out. My guess is that here in Florida, many salons will not have vaccinated employees, cause ya know, here in Florida the pandemic doesn't exist!! sort of like Disney world---- fairytales and all

 

[MimosaMornings]

Well at least you will be a covid free grinch!!! we just gotta be careful; here in Florida not too many people wearing masks- I do at the grocery store- my husband doesn't wear a mask- sigh

Just do instacart or pickup! Is Publix nearby? If he’s just running in for a few items - maybe not too risky without a mask?
Masks are still required indoors here.

I’ve got friends along the Florida panhandle area that are reporting a lot of flu/severe cold like illness necessitating an urgent care or doctor visit.

One friend double vaccinated got Covid after attending a college football game three months ago and recently had a bad upper respiratory illness plus a stomach bug.
He lives near Tampa. Sounds awful.

Be careful! Enjoy the warm weather!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Hi --- settling in to our condo here in Fort Myers Florida. The weather is beautiful but that long trip just takes it out of me---two days 1300 miles- Anyway- my next job is to find a hair stylist- my really great hair stylist decided to retire (at 52)- she gave me the name of someone that she says is really good but here is the fly in the ointment: I have to find out if the people that work in this salon are vaccinated and I will have to call the salon and find out. My guess is that here in Florida, many salons will not have vaccinated employees, cause ya know, here in Florida the pandemic doesn't exist!! sort of like Disney world---- fairytales and all

Glad to hear that you made it to FL safely. So nice that you are able to enjoy the sunshine and warmth this winter. We have high wind warnings today - hope we don't lose trees like we did several years ago during a similar wind event. Good luck finding a salon/stylist to do your hair. Be well.