The COVID-2019 Thread

[Buckaroo Banzai]

wondering why they named it omicron and not nu?

well here's why.

Soon they will run out of Greek letters for the covid virus , as they will also have to skip over "Pi" so that it will not be confused with a urinary tract infection virus

[S Landreth]

This extremely long branch (>1 year) indicates an extended period of circulation in a geography with poor genomic surveillance (certainly not South Africa) or continual evolution in a chronically infected individual before spilling back into the population.: https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1464353234420600835

About the author - Trevor Bedford, Ph.D.

[naptownmike]

Looks like my easy trip home to Thailand in two months is slowly slipping away.

I was just getting excited about a quarantine free experience.

[harrybarracuda]

Looks like my easy trip home to Thailand in two months is slowly slipping away.

I was just getting excited about a quarantine free experience.

Judging by the amount of time spent discussing it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Thailand making boosters a mandatory criterion for the easiest entry path soon.

I'm still baffled as to why a country like Thailand can mandate a pre-arrival PCR test, but the UK and Europe don't seem to be interested.

Probably why Thailand has about 0.08% arrival cases and Amsterdam had 10% on just two flights.

[harrybarracuda]

Worth noting.

In the space of two weeks, the omicron variant has sent South Africa from a period of low transmission to rapid growth of new confirmed cases. The country’s numbers are still relatively low, with 2,828 new confirmed cases recorded Friday, but omicron’s speed in infecting young South Africans has alarmed health professionals.

“We’re seeing a marked change in the demographic profile of patients with COVID-19,” Rudo Mathivha, head of the intensive care unit at Soweto’s Baragwanath Hospital, told an online press briefing.

“Young people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated,” said Mathivha. “I’m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed.”

South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron - ABC News

[baldrick]

Of course they bottled it.

because it would not have helped the situation

this is why you are not in a leadership position

[harrybarracuda]

because it would not have helped the situation

this is why you are not in a leadership position

Shit and there was me thinking not going to Eton was wot done it.

[hallelujah]

Worth noting.


South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron - ABC News

Slightly different opinion here from the doctor who discovered the variant.

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

Dr Angelique Coetzee noticed otherwise healthy patients showing unusual symptoms and worries how the new variant might hurt the elderly.

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

[Troy]

Judging by the amount of time spent discussing it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Thailand making boosters a mandatory criterion for the easiest entry path soon.

I'm still baffled as to why a country like Thailand can mandate a pre-arrival PCR test, but the UK and Europe don't seem to be interested.

Probably why Thailand has about 0.08% arrival cases and Amsterdam had 10% on just two flights.

Mandatory boosters 6 months after vaccination is a strong possibility. However, like you, I am surprised a PCR test prior for travel is not a requirement in Europe for vaccinated. The one after 2 days in UK is strange as well since you don't need to quarantine for those 2 days. For Germany vaccination certs was enough even though UK was red country. I did PCR anyway, as well as antigen after a week to ensure I was okay.

UK only forcing use of masks from Tuesday...should never have dropped the requirement in shops and public transport.

Good to see Germany only allowing vaccinated into work.

[harrybarracuda]

Slightly different opinion here from the doctor who discovered the variant.

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

Dr Angelique Coetzee noticed otherwise healthy patients showing unusual symptoms and worries how the new variant might hurt the elderly.

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

If you read what I posted it refers to the unvaccinated.

Specifically:

“We’re seeing a marked change in the demographic profile of patients with COVID-19,” Rudo Mathivha, head of the intensive care unit at Soweto’s Baragwanath Hospital, told an online press briefing.“Young people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated,” said Mathivha. “I’m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed.”

That is what will concern Thailand.

[harrybarracuda]

The one after 2 days in UK is strange as well since you don't need to quarantine for those 2 days.

I don't think they're saying you should wander about a bit and then test on Day 2.

I think they mean land and isolate, take a test on Day 2 and THEN be free to go out if you pass it.

Could be badly worded or they could be that fucking dumb I suppose.

• Everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
• All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of whether or not they are fully jabbed

[misskit]

Israel closes borders to all foreigners over Omicron

Israel is to close its borders to all foreigners later Sunday in a bid to stem the spread of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, authorities said.


“The entry of foreign nationals into Israel is banned except for cases approved by a special committee,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement, adding that the measure would take effect on Sunday evening.


Israeli citizens will be required to present a negative PCR test and quarantine themselves for three days if they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus and seven days if they have not.


It was only four weeks ago that Israel reopened its borders to foreign tourists after a prolonged closure due to Covid.


The measure were decided by a cabinet committee tasked with overseeing Israel’s Covid response and must be approved by the whole cabinet on Sunday morning.


The government’s latest announcement came just hours before the start at sundown of the eight-day-long Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.


It already imposed a series of emergency measures late Friday to protect its heavily vaccinated population after identifying a case of the new Covid-19 variant.


The health ministry said the new strain that was first detected by South Africa — known as B.1.1.529 — was discovered in a person who had arrived from Malawi.


Two more suspected cases have been detected in people returning from abroad, it said, adding that all three, who had been vaccinated, were placed in quarantine. The government later announced another suspected case.


Scientists in South Africa said on Thursday that they had detected the new B.1.1.529 variant with at least 10 mutations, compared with two for Delta or three for Beta.


The strain was of “serious concern” and had been blamed for a surge in infections, the authorities in South Africa said.


It has also been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong among travellers from South Africa, as well as in Belgium.


The new variant “is concerning and has the potential to be very dangerous. We are raising a red flag,” Israeli Prome Minister Naftali Bennett said late Friday.


He said Israel would order 10 million PCR test kits.


Israel was one of the first countries to launch vaccines against the coronavirus last year, thanks to a deal with Pfizer that gave it access to millions of doses in exchange for data on the vaccine’s efficacy.


Its initial vaccine rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was among the world’s fastest, and more than 5.7 million of the country’s nine million people are now fully vaccinated.

Israel closes borders to all foreigners over Omicron | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

[misskit]

China study warns of 'colossal' COVID outbreak if it opens up like U.S., France

BEIJING (Reuters) - China could face more than 630,000 COVID-19 infections a day if it dropped its zero-tolerance policies by lifting travel curbs, according to a study by Peking University mathematicians.


In the report published in China CDC Weekly by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the mathematicians said China could not afford to lift travel restrictions without more efficient vaccinations or specific treatments.


Using data for August from the United States, Britain, Spain, France and Israel, the mathematicians assessed the potential results if China adopted the same pandemic control tactics as those countries.

China's daily new cases would reach at least 637,155 if it adopted the United States' pandemic strategy, the report said.


And daily cases would hit 275,793 if China took the same approach as Britain and 454,198 if it imitated France, it said.


"The estimates revealed the real possibility of a colossal outbreak which would almost certainly induce an unaffordable burden on the medical system," the report said.


"Our findings have raised a clear warning that, for the time being, we are not ready to embrace 'open-up' strategies resting solely on the hypothesis of herd immunity induced by vaccination advocated by certain western countries."


The mathematicians cautioned that their estimates were based on basic arithmetic calculations and that more sophisticated models were needed to study the evolution of the pandemic if travel restrictions were lifted.


China has maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards COVID-19, saying the importance of containing local cases when they are found outweighs the disruptions caused by efforts to trace, isolate and treat the infected.


China reported 23 new confirmed coronavirus cases for Nov. 27, down from 25 a day earlier, its health authority said on Sunday.


The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday designated a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a large number of mutations as being "of concern", prompting some countries to impose travel curbs.


China study warns of 'colossal' COVID outbreak if it opens up like U.S., France

[katie23]

The Philippines has placed several European countries on its red list, in addition to South Africa and other African countries. The euro countries are: Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland. It has no green list anymore - all arriving passengers have to quarantine. The reopening to foreign tourists from green list countries is also suspended. Previously, those coming from green list countries don't need to quarantine as long as they are fully vaccinated & have a negative RT-PCR test result.

Link:

You are being redirected...

******

Hmm, I wonder why the link doesn't work. It's from ptvnews site (it's the govt TV station).

Another link:
Travel restrictions up vs COVID-19 variant; more countries added to 'Red List' | Philstar.com

[Troy]

I don't think they're saying you should wander about a bit and then test on Day 2.

I think they mean land and isolate, take a test on Day 2 and THEN be free to go out if you pass it.

Could be badly worded or they could be that fucking dumb I suppose.

Well, that's what vaccinated travellers are doing. Those in hotels have to pick up the test kit from the chemist. That's why the forced booking of tests looked to be nothing short of a scam since pre testing was not accepted.

[cyrille]

UK only forcing use of masks from Tuesday.

England, not UK.

[malmomike77]

Re this mask thing. Given COVID will stay in general circulation and once we have attained a sufficient percentage of fully immunised population, going forward we are going to have to accept that at some point we have to just get on with our lives and that means people catching and passing it on much like occurs with the cold and flu. I do however still wear a mask at present.

[S Landreth]

Moderna says updated vaccine for Omicron could be ready in early 2022

Moderna's chief medical officer Paul Burton said on Sunday that a reformulated vaccine against the newly-identified Omicron coronavirus variant could be ready as soon as early 2022 if it's found to be necessary.

Why it matters: Burton's comments on BBC's "Andrew Marr Show" come as companies are testing whether current COVID vaccines will provide adequate protection against the strain.

• The Omicron variant has a significant number of mutations that have led some to fear that it may be able to evade immune systems and drive a new wave of cases.
• Burton reiterated that Moderna has "very effective vaccines," but that whether it will protect against the variant is not yet known, adding that "if people are on the fence and you haven't been vaccinated get vaccinated."

What they're saying: "We should know about the ability of the current vaccine to provide protection in the next couple of weeks," Burton told host Andrew Marr.

• The "remarkable thing about the MRNA vaccines, Moderna platform is that we can move very fast," he added.
• "If we have to make a brand new vaccine I think that's going to be early 2022 before that's really going to be available in large quantities."
• Burton said the company "mobilized hundreds of people" immediately to work on an adjusted vaccine.

The big picture: Pfizer and BioNTech also said they are investigating the variant and could be ready to ship a redesigned shot within 100 days, CNBC reports.

• The data collected from the investigation will "provide more information about whether B.1.1.529 could be an escape variant that may require an adjustment of our vaccine if the variant spreads globally," the companies said, per CNBC.

[Joe 90]

Is it time to start panic buying the loo roll again?

[Latindancer]

Don't panic.


Omicron has few, and fairly weak symptoms.

An infectious disease specialist is urging Australians not to panic over the Omicron Covid variant, suggesting it could be a preferred strain to Delta.

Doctor's unlikely Omicron theory: 'You might want it to spread'

[Troy]

England, not UK.

Yes, apologies, easy mistake to make when site is gov.uk but only England stopped mandatory use of masks.

So much for United eh...

[malmomike77]

So much for United eh...

Troy, since the start of this Jimmy Krankie north of the wall has continually played COVID as a tool for her independence agenda. She's read in on the latest SAGE advice and the Eng Govts decisions then has blatantly used this to brief in advance and make changes frequently minor, but more stringent to present Scotland and particularly her as someone leading the field when in reality the woman is just playing politics.

She has also leaked the SAGE advice in advance of the Govt briefing England and thus undermining their position. Can you imagine if she was on the receiving end - she'd be like that whinger Blackford - you'd never shut her complaining up.

Still we can only hope she gets her way and they get Independence - research showing they'll take a c7% economic hit in doing so

[taxexile]

She has also leaked the SAGE advice in advance of the Govt briefing England and thus undermining their position. Can you imagine if she was on the receiving end - she'd be like that whinger Blackford - you'd never shut her complaining up.

well suck on this krankie ...

COVID-19: Nine known Omicron cases in the UK as six infections detected in Scotland

Six cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in Scotland, some of which have no travel history, authorities have confirmed.

COVID-19: Nine known Omicron cases in the UK as six infections detected in Scotland | UK News | Sky News

[harrybarracuda]

Don't panic.


Omicron has few, and fairly weak symptoms.

An infectious disease specialist is urging Australians not to panic over the Omicron Covid variant, suggesting it could be a preferred strain to Delta.

Doctor's unlikely Omicron theory: 'You might want it to spread'

I'm glad some bloke in Australia has an opinion, but what about the people actually IN South Africa?

In the space of two weeks, the omicron variant has sent South Africa from a period of low transmission to rapid growth of new confirmed cases. The country’s numbers are still relatively low, with 2,828 new confirmed cases recorded Friday, but omicron’s speed in infecting young South Africans has alarmed health professionals.

“We’re seeing a marked change in the demographic profile of patients with COVID-19,” Rudo Mathivha, head of the intensive care unit at Soweto’s Baragwanath Hospital, told an online press briefing.

“Young people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated,” said Mathivha. “I’m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed.”

South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron - ABC News

[S Landreth]

Still early and it might be some time before they find out how this new variant will spread. From the thread in my first link on this page……..