COVID-19

[JohnRoberts]

People still believe this started in a 'wet market'?

That appears to be the story pushed by the Chinese government and their lackeys. They have locked down any serious investigation in Wuhan.

AFAIK we do not have definitive proof that it came from a lab but a preponderance of evidence is pointing toward that likelihood.

"I am science", Dr Fauci pushed back hard against the lab leak theory while he was also denying his complicity in US funded gain of function research. Methinks he doth protest too much.

Understanding where this came from is important to avoid any avoidable mistakes happening again.

Hopefully this pandemic is on its way to becoming more like catching a cold. While at risk individuals need to avoid catching colds too.

JR

 

[crazydoc]

Heard some local yokels on the radio this morning giving tips on how to avoid wearing masks when visiting the big city of Reno, where mask use is mandatory and enforced in indoor public places. (Here in Lassen County CA, although masking is mandatory for the unvaccinated, the flatfoots refuse to enforce it, because the govmnt cain't tell us what to do.)

When in a casino, keep a drink in your hand at all times, because you don't have to wear a mask when eating or drinking.

On airplane, keep a glass of water on the seat tray, and take a sip whenever the flight attendant comes by.

In a store, tell them you don't have a mask, and if they try to get you to take one they have, leave with a rude comment.

There were probably more, but I had other things to do. For me, wearing a mask is easy - being sick is hard.

 

[fallout]

 

[JohnRoberts]

I am still waiting for reports about the numbers of omnicon strain covid deaths. For now that looks like the dog that isn't barking. To be prudent we need to give it more time since delta variant is still killing people. Hopefully Omnicon will crowd out the delta variant.

JR

 

[hodad]

I am still waiting for reports about the numbers of omnicron strain covid deaths.

Certainly a key will be seeing how it hits those without prior immunity. South Africa's vax levels are low (35-ish%), but the level of prior infections is enormous. And almost all of the early US cases will be among the vaxxed, since international travel requires vaccination. Europe is probably slightly ahead of the US (some European countries are predicting it will be their dominant strain within a week), but answers will come soon enough.

 

[cyrano]

We have thirty Omnicon cases here in Belgium, up until now. Most from travellers; one outbreak in a school where nobody has travelled, as far as we can tell...

The animal factor still doesn't get any attention.

 

[crazydoc]

I'm hoping, since the omicron variant seems to share some genetic material with common cold coronaviruses, that in addition to making it more easily transmissible, it will also make the clinical disease less serious, more like that of the cold.

Time will tell, and we may start to have some answers in the coming weeks/months.

 

[JohnRoberts]

The dog has reportedly barked.

BBC article

First omnicon variant death reported in UK. Details are still sketchy, reportedly 10 omnicon related hospital admissions the majority of them were vaccinated.

I expect more details to follow but this will energize the mandate pushers.

JR

 

[hodad]

A reasonably accessible assessment of what is known about omicron so far:
Omicron is getting more defined

 

[scott2000]

A little lag but maybe still relevant...not clear if the previous infected were also vaccinated?

"Details are available for 43 cases of COVID-19 attributed to the Omicron variant; 25 (58%) were in persons aged 18–39 years (Table). The earliest date of symptom onset was November 15 in a person with a history of international travel. Fourteen (33%) persons reported international travel during the 14 days preceding symptom onset or receipt of a positive test result. Among these cases of COVID-19 attributed to the Omicron variant, 34 (79%) occurred in persons who completed the primary series of an FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine ≥14 days before symptom onset or receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, including 14 who had received an additional or booster dose; five of the 14 persons had received the additional dose <14 days before symptom onset. Six (14%) persons had a documented previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most commonly reported symptoms were cough, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose. One vaccinated patient was hospitalized for 2 days, and no deaths have been reported to date."

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7050e1.htm

 

[cyrano]

We went from 30 to 11.000 Omicron cases in a little over a week. AFAICT, none in ICU.

It looks like Holland will go into complete lockdown from tomorrow morning five 'o clock till January 14. They have around 16.000 infections, which is completely comparable to our numbers, since the population is a little larger.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I heard one report that they were finding evidence of Omnicon in waste water in places with zero Omnicon hospitalizations.

Hopefully this kinder /gentler variant will speed up the transition to making covid endemic.

JR

 

[crazydoc]

Maybe mask mandates help?

Tough mask mandates linked to fewer COVID-19 deaths, global study finds​

https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00557-2/fulltext

 

[JohnRoberts]

News reports from UK "the total number of deaths in England of people with the new variant to seven, the UK Health Security Agency said."

I still note the news reports say died "with" Omnicon not "from" Omnicon.

The headlines are still trumpeting the total new cases. I saw some scary headlines about the rate of increase of infections.

I went to the UK Health Security Agency to read their actual published report and there was little discussion about the deaths other than the single citation of the number "7". With several pages of data about infections.

I am waiting for concise inspection of Omnicon variant deaths.

JR

 

[gyraf]

yeah. It's scheduled to take over as dominant variety here in the coming days

Remember it takes on average some three weeks from infection to you actually die (if you do so) - so it's way early to estimate anything real

So in a couple of weeks we'll know here for sure - I'll keep you posted

/Jakob E.

 

[scott2000]

Looks like we're kicking off in FL

 

[JohnRoberts]

FDA just approved Pfizer anti-viral pill... (glad I bought Pfizer stock).

JR

 

[crazydoc]

I'm hoping, since the omicron variant seems to share some genetic material with common cold coronaviruses, that in addition to making it more easily transmissible, it will also make the clinical disease less serious, more like that of the cold.

Time will tell, and we may start to have some answers in the coming weeks/months.

Looking hopeful, but again, time will tell. Unfortunately, this would also help to make omicron much more transmissible, since when we think we have a cold we don't isolate from other people.

"For most people, an Omicron positive case will feel much more like the common cold, starting with a sore throat, runny nose and a headache."

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59768366

 

[fallout]

 

[JohnRoberts]

If you are asymptomatic maybe relax and drink a beer... I am asymptomatic and drinking a beer (actually more than one).

Behavior like this makes me wonder about the human race.

JR