The COVID-2019 Thread

[thailazer]

^ ....or the population of the earth is finally curbed.

[harrybarracuda]

This is fucking ridiculous. No wonder the UK banned South Africa. The rest of the world should ban them too, if they can't be trusted not to filter out the infected.

61 out of 600!

Of the 600 passengers on two KLM flights from South Africa, 61 have tested positive for the corona virus. The two flights landed at Schiphol yesterday morning. All passengers had to be tested because of the new variant of the corona virus that is circulating in southern Africa.
It is not yet clear whether the 61 infections concern the omikron variant. All travelers who have arrived from southern Africa since Monday will be asked by the GGD to be tested as soon as possible.

61 van 600 passagiers uit Zuid-Afrika positief getest, variant nog onduidelijk | NOS

[harrybarracuda]

Sorry, it's a bad news day today it seems.

Merck & Co (MRK.N) said on Friday updated data from its study of its experimental COVID-19 pill showed the drug was significantly less effective in cutting hospitalizations and deaths than previously reported.
The drugmaker said its pill showed a 30% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths, based on data from 1,433 patients. In October, its data showed a roughly 50% efficacy, based on data from 775 patients. The drug, molnupiravir, was developed with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Merck'''s COVID-19 pill significantly less effective in new analysis | Reuters

[Stumpy]

One has to wonder now with all the antibacterial everything everywhere and masks pretty much mandatory what is happening to peoples immune systems? Some of the strength our immune systems develop is being subjected to bacteria and viruses regularly. With all this hand washing, wiping and cleaning I suspect they will only get weaker and weaker. Years back I noticed this trend in the states as parents became "antibacterial" whack jobs. Later on I saw more kids sick and less and less of them outside doing things and everywhere I went I saw parents yanking out antibacterial wipes for everything their kids touched.

Saddle up, I think we are all about to go on a another crazy ride again. YeeeeeeeHawwww!!!!!!

As I see it, Travel out of Africa should be banned to every country. No exceptions.

[Joe 90]

As I see it, Travel out of Africa should be banned to every country. No exception

The horse has unfortunately already bolted...

[Stumpy]

The horse has unfortunately already bolted...

Yeah, apparently countries still haven't learned their lessons yet. Saddling up now....

[Joe 90]

No point circling the wagons now...

[cyrille]

As I see it, Travel out of Africa should be banned to every country. No exceptions.

The whole continent?

Good job for you that Thailand allowed US citizens in, despite the dire situation in Brazil.

[malmomike77]

I think this and other viruses will be bouncing around the world mutating until we get our act together, or ....
I stopped at the "Or" because I honestly don't know.

There is no cure for COVID, its the same as the cold or Flu viruses, it is with us to stay and will/is as you say keep mutating. We'll just have to live with it and recognise living with it carries risk and some will succumb to it annually.

[malmomike77]

Some of the strength our immune systems develop is being subjected to bacteria and viruses regularly. With all this hand washing, wiping and cleaning I suspect they will only get weaker and weaker.

The lack of contact over the past two years has reduced colds and flu in the general population. I had my first cold for over 2 years recently and it was worse than a usual cold, hit me harder. Whether that was due to the fact my immune response had waned as i had not had my tradition annual cold i don't know. Many others i work with say they also felt their colds were worse.

[hallelujah]

We'll just have to live with it and recognise living with it carries risk and some will succumb to it annually.

Indeed.

And behind all the fucking scaremongering about this new variant, no hospitalisations have been reported so far and many scientists believe that the strain, while being more transmissible, could be less dangerous than current strains out there (following the route that viruses weaken over time).

You'll have to read very carefully to find this info, of course.

[Stumpy]

The lack of contact over the past two years has reduced colds and flu in the general population. I had my first cold for over 2 years recently and it was worse than a usual cold, hit me harder. Whether that was due to the fact my immune response had waned as i had not had my tradition annual cold i don't know. Many others i work with say they also felt their colds were worse.

Yeah what you experienced is my point. We need to be social and be exposed to the elements. Like you, I have had 3 colleagues catch basic colds and what used to be a few day deal tops was an all out in bed sick going die type cold. So yes, flu and cold cases are less but at what cost to your immune system and its ability to fight it off. I refuse to wipe my hands with antibacterial products. I wear a mask because it's a fine here if I don't but if I could scrap not wearing one I would in a minute. Out of respect for others if I was in a place with high people volumes I would wear one.

I do not see any need to wear one out and about and no one near you. Like sitting on a beach, taking a hike, riding a bike, sitting in a car with people you know, riding a scooter, etc.

[cyrille]

sitting in a car with people you know

Hmm...I'd say 'sitting in a car with people you live with'.

It does make me laugh when I see people doing 130 KMPH on an m/c with a mask on but no helmet.

But the dumb German **** sat in front of me with 200 people in an enclosed space at immigration with her mask around her neck - that was not amusing.

Her partner was wearing a mask but even then she didn't get the hint.

[malmomike77]

It does make me laugh when I see people doing 130 KMPH on an m/c with a mask on but no helmet.

Sensible precaution during burning season

[cyrille]

My wife's rationalisation: well, it's much easier to put a mask on.

[malmomike77]

rationalisation

Its an endearing Thai trait, they aren't good at it but its fun listening to them try.

[Stumpy]

It does make me laugh when I see people doing 130 KMPH on an m/c with a mask on but no helmet.

The whole mask thing on a motorcycle is just silly. And let's face it, most people are not wearing true protective masks anymore and use them for weeks before tossing.

In most cases now, it's just have something covering your nose and mouth to avoid a fine. Nothing more

[cyrille]

Still likely to lessen the chances of transmitting the virus though.

(Not when on a motorcycle doing 130, of course).

Don't go all 'Floridian' now, jp.

[bsnub]

Don't go all 'Floridian' now, jp.

He already did.

[Stumpy]

Don't go all 'Floridian' now, jp

Sorry. Been talking to a few of my backwood Kentucky friends.

Ordering more masks and a 55 gallon drum of anti bacterial liquid Pronto.

[harrybarracuda]

Two cases of Xi's Omicron in the UK.
Boris news conference at 8pm GMT.

[taxexile]

wondering why they named it omicron and not nu?

well here's why.

When news of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 first began to emerge, many expected that if it was flagged by the World Health Organisation, it would - quite fittingly - be called the 'Nu' variant. The WHO has been naming coronavirus variants after the Greek alphabet and the next available letter was 'Nu'.

However, after the WHO's panel met on Friday, they designated the new strain found in South Africa and Botswana as a 'variant of concern' and announced that it would be called the 'Omicron' variant.

In doing so, they skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet - Nu and Xi. But why?

Epidemiologist Martin Kulldorf, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, provided a possible reason. Taking to Twitter, he suggested that the WHO had jumped the alphabet and named the new variant 'Omicron' in order to avoid the potential situation of ever having to call a coronavirus variant the 'Xi' strain.

All things considered, it would be rather awkward for the world to be battling a coronavirus variant that shares its name with Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially after all the debates over the origin of the original virus. But in the bargain, 'Nu' lost its claim to fame too!

Meanwhile, Paul Nuki, senior editor at The Telegraph, claimed that a WHO source had confirmed the letters Nu and Xi were skipped to avoid confusion with the word 'new' and stigmatisation of China respectively.


With an image of the Greek alphabet, Martin Kulldorf wrote, "News of new Nu variant, but WHO is jumping the alphabet to call it Omicron, so they can avoid Xi."

'Omicron' Covid variant: Did WHO skip two letters of Greek alphabet to avoid 'Xi'? - World News

[Mendip]

Two cases of Xi's Omicron in the UK.
Boris news conference at 8pm GMT.

5pm GMT... Boris has just started. He hasn't mentioned Peppa Pig yet either.

[Joe 90]

Decent post that Tax!

[harrybarracuda]

wondering why they named it omicron and not nu?

well here's why.

Of course they bottled it.

So we can just call it "Xi's Omicron".

Mr. Shithole should not get away with it.