Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[jjenny]

"Two new preprint papers add to the growing evidence that the Omicron coronavirus variant may be less likely to cause severe disease and hospitalization compared to the Delta variant."
Two early studies suggest a reduced risk of Covid-19 hospitalization when infected with Omicron compared to Delta - CNN

 

[MrX]

South Africa's COVID-19 rates rapidly drop after Omicron spike

More good news. If this holds true, then maybe this is the end, as some predicted. Omi will infect so many, so fast (with minimal symptoms) that it will finally run out of hosts.

 

[jjenny]

South Africa's COVID-19 rates rapidly drop after Omicron spike

More good news. If this holds true, then maybe this is the end, as some predicted. Omi will infect so many, so fast (with minimal symptoms) that it will finally run out of hosts.

It's going to be so many cases (it already is) that even smaller percentage needing hospitalization will be a big problem. In my state hospitals are already full.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

South Africa's COVID-19 rates rapidly drop after Omicron spike

More good news. If this holds true, then maybe this is the end, as some predicted. Omi will infect so many, so fast (with minimal symptoms) that it will finally run out of hosts.

Isn't that basically how the Spanish Flu pandemic ended in 1918?

 

[MrX]

Isn't that basically how the Spanish Flu pandemic ended in 1918?

I guess that's how they all end. Ironic that the places with the most draconian mitigation measures may keep it percolating long enough to mutate into something worse.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

You just tested positive for Covid. Here’s what to do next. (nbcnews.com)

With the fast-spreading omicron variant, there has been a rise in cases, including breakthrough infections. These are the steps to take if you test positive.

The highly transmissible omicron variant has led to a Covid-19 surge that is expected to continue to spike in the coming weeks.

While the coronavirus poses the greatest risk to the unvaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the new strain is likely to lead to breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, too.

If you test positive for Covid, what should you do? These are the steps that experts say to take...

 

[acutename]

notified today that 5 ppl at my job tested positive- 3 floors out of 8 contaminated (as per them...) not sure the whole building isn't contaminated. We are to wear masks and they test the unvaccinated every week... presumably the Tues test knocked these folks out Nervous.

 

[jjenny]

I guess that's how they all end. Ironic that the places with the most draconian mitigation measures may keep it percolating long enough to mutate into something worse.

So far the worst variants Delta (from India) and Omicron (from South Africa) came from place that had no draconian mitigation measures in place.

 

[anneg]

Omicron infections do not seem as severe, leading less often to hospitalization, U.K. researchers report.

Two new studies suggest that Omicron infections more often result in mild illness, compared with previous variants of the coronavirus, offering hope that the current surge may not be quite as catastrophic as feared, despite skyrocketing caseloads in much of the world.

The research, conducted in Britain and released on Wednesday, indicated that Omicron is less likely to put people in hospitals.
[...]

The difference between the English and Scottish results may be due in part to the data the scientists could study. For England, the Imperial College London team included people who just visited a hospital in addition to those who had to be put in a bed for more serious illness. The Scottish researchers looked only at hospital admissions.

Both teams of scientists cautioned that the results were still preliminary....

Omicron infections do not seem as severe, leading less often to hospitalization, U.K. researchers report.

 

[CharlestonGal]

So far the worst variants Delta (from India) and Omicron (from South Africa) came from place that had no draconian mitigation measures in place.

I'm a little surprised it didn't spring from the US, frankly. Other than about 2-3 weeks last year, we didn't really use any kind of serious or drastic measures here. And our vaccination rates are abysmal for a western country that has had free access to vaccines for nearly a year now. Sorry, putting on a mask and staying 6 feet away from other people is not anything close to "draconian" measures. I think the only country that went full-on draconian was China. They just sent another city of 13 million into complete lockdown over 140 cases. One person per household may go outside every 2 days to gather essentials. That's it. And they are testing all 13 million of them. And 1.2B of their 1.4B population is vaccinated. That's draconian measures.

And I predict our next variant is percolating in Africa as we speak. jmo

 

[ilovewings]

You just tested positive for Covid. Here’s what to do next. (nbcnews.com)

With the fast-spreading omicron variant, there has been a rise in cases, including breakthrough infections. These are the steps to take if you test positive.

The highly transmissible omicron variant has led to a Covid-19 surge that is expected to continue to spike in the coming weeks.

While the coronavirus poses the greatest risk to the unvaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the new strain is likely to lead to breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, too.

If you test positive for Covid, what should you do? These are the steps that experts say to take...

Great information------thanks for posting-
I just heard on MSNBC a prediction of 140 /million
people in this country will become infected in
the next couple months-: tnat is almost half the
population of our country!!!!!!

 

[jjenny]

I'm a little surprised it didn't spring from the US, frankly. Other than about 2-3 weeks last year, we didn't really use any kind of serious or drastic measures here. And our vaccination rates are abysmal for a western country that has had free access to vaccines for nearly a year now. Sorry, putting on a mask and staying 6 feet away from other people is not anything close to "draconian" measures. I think the only country that went full-on draconian was China. They just sent another city of 13 million into complete lockdown over 140 cases. One person per household may go outside every 2 days to gather essentials. That's it. And they are testing all 13 million of them. And 1.2B of their 1.4B population is vaccinated. That's draconian measures.

And I predict our next variant is percolating in Africa as we speak. jmo

China's vaccines aren't going to work against omicron (as far as I can tell). So even being almost fully vaccinated isn't going to prevent massive infections there if they are not going to take draconian measures.

 

[CharlestonGal]

China's vaccines aren't going to work against omicron (as far as I can tell). So even being almost fully vaccinated isn't going to prevent massive infections there if they are not going to take draconian measures.

Agreed. I pointed out China's vaccine inefficacy problem a couple of days ago. Here, I was using their extremely high vaccination rate as an example of their overall response as compared to the western world. jmo

ETA: When people here in the US start throwing around words like "draconian" and "tyranny" I have to just roll my eyes and tell them to have a look-see at China.

 

[jjenny]

Agreed. I pointed out China's vaccine inefficacy problem a couple of days ago. Here, I was using their extremely high vaccination rate as an example of their overall response as compared to the western world. jmo

I guess we are pretty lucky mRNA vaccines still work against Omicron (even if less well, but at least we still get some infection prevention). Many countries used vaccines that are going to be completely ineffective in prevention of infection with Omicron.

 

[Warwick1991]

I don’t know if you have Trader Joe’s where you live but that is the most “masked “ store in my area. An employee hands out shopping carts at the door and ensures that everyone is wearing a mask.

Unfortunately, the one near me in Florida has mostly unmasked employees, and about half to a third of the shoppers are unmasked... Masking and safety measures must vary by location. I wish the one near me took things as seriously as the one in your area.....

 

[CharlestonGal]

I guess we are pretty lucky mRNA vaccines still work against Omicron (even if less well, but at least we still get some infection prevention). Many countries used vaccines that are going to be completely ineffective in prevention of infection with Omicron.

Part of China's problem with complete vaccine failure (as opposed to Russia who is in the same boat) is that China has zero natural immunity if you believe their numbers. Russia at least has some people running around with natural antibodies. Those aren't proving to be a huge obstacle for Omicron either, but it will help Russia at least a little bit I think. jmo

 

[jjenny]

Part of China's problem with complete vaccine failure (as opposed to Russia who is in the same boat) is that China has zero natural immunity if you believe their numbers. Russia at least has some people running around with natural antibodies. Those aren't proving to be a huge obstacle for Omicron either, but it will help Russia at least a little bit I think. jmo

Russia should have lots of natural immunity by now. Yes, if we believe China, they had very little covid there.

 

[indicolite22]

I guess we are pretty lucky mRNA vaccines still work against Omicron (even if less well, but at least we still get some infection prevention). Many countries used vaccines that are going to be completely ineffective in prevention of infection with Omicron.

Latest research shows that AZ (non-mRNA) topped up with Pfizer works.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Unfortunately, the one near me in Florida has mostly unmasked employees, and about half to a third of the shoppers are unmasked... Masking and safety measures must vary by location. I wish the one near me took things as seriously as the one in your area.....

I asked my daughter about Trader Joe's just now. I don't go there because I can't drive over the bridge <different issue>. She said Trader Joe's is no different than Harris Teeter, or Walmart for that matter. No masks. No distancing.

I think that's just true of Charleston in general though. Our governor, like DeSantis, banned mask mandates. jmo

 

[Jsizzle]

My husband and I have gone almost 2 years running the Covid gauntlet only to be taken out by Omicron. We are both vaxxed. It’s not bad. Extreme fatigue, about 12 hours of fever and body aches but mostly annoying congestion and runny nose.
Something else of notice….my daughter entire dance company is all having a Covid outbreak. Some worse symptoms than others but all totally fine. Every. Single. Girl. Who is sick is vaxxed. Not one unvaxxed girl is sick. I find it super interesting and there is a group chat between us (the vaxxed and unvaxxed girl moms) about how that’s possible. Some food for thought. Also, they were all together during their dress rehearsal and rehearsals sat and Sunday and all attended a Christmas party together. Definitely makes you wonder.