SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

On a scale of one to ten how stressed out should I be right now?
You shouldn't get stressed out. You should try and make sure that you, your family, your friends and anyone else you can influence are fully vaccinated and get the booster if they're eligible.
 
On a scale of one to ten how stressed out should I be right now?
From a psychological view this will cause more stress and fear amongst some people because of how quickly it’s escalated… identified yesterday, flights banned, present in Europe, named by WHO all within 24 hours or so. In contrast with previous variants where the same process has been much slower.

Could look at it in a positive. Governments are acting quicker, research is better so we’re better prepared. But of course scientists know very little about this new variant, so best thing is to wait for the scientific view on how infectious and deadly Vs other variants and if vaccines work on it.
 
That is what viruses do. Mutate and the strongest survive.
Not an expert. But I read that it’s usually in a virus’ interest to mutate and become more infectious but less deadly. The Dr stated that 10000 years ago or do it was likely that the when the common cold first around it was very deadly… a very good more recent example is the flu. When it first came it killed millions of healthy young adult but nowadays most won’t die from it. A mixture of natural immunity and the way its mutated.
 


First notes from Belgium including details on their first case of confirmed Omicron there.
"The patient infected with B.1.1.529 is a young adult woman who developed symptoms 11 days after travelling to Egypt via Turkey. The patient had a high viral load at the time of diagnosis (Cq of 14,2) The patient did not report any link with South Africa or other Southern African countries. This patient had not previously been vaccinated and had not yet been infected. She developed flu-like symptoms, but does not present at this stage signs of severe disease.

The patient did not report high risk contacts outside her household. None of her household members have developed symptoms, but have nevertheless been referred for testing. An extended investigation will be launched."

Based on PCR tests (that are now being sequenced) they've been seeing what they now view as potential cases rising for the past couple of weeks.
 
Did they skip Nu, so then they also skip Xi (for obvious political reasons) and thus it looks less obvious?
 


First notes from Belgium including details on their first case of confirmed Omicron there.
"The patient infected with B.1.1.529 is a young adult woman who developed symptoms 11 days after travelling to Egypt via Turkey. The patient had a high viral load at the time of diagnosis (Cq of 14,2) The patient did not report any link with South Africa or other Southern African countries. This patient had not previously been vaccinated and had not yet been infected. She developed flu-like symptoms, but does not present at this stage signs of severe disease.

The patient did not report high risk contacts outside her household. None of her household members have developed symptoms, but have nevertheless been referred for testing. An extended investigation will be launched."

Based on PCR tests (that are now being sequenced) they've been seeing what they now view as potential cases rising for the past couple of weeks.

I guess the most alarming thing about this is that it has no link at all to the areas where the variant was first released.

What is the likelihood that this is the variant causing a spike in Europe? I imagine slim if at all, as at this rate of infection it would have been picked up?
 
I guess the most alarming thing about this is that it has no link at all to the areas where the variant was first released.

What is the likelihood that this is the variant causing a spike in Europe? I imagine slim if at all, as at this rate of infection it would have been picked up?
Zero.
 
Not an expert. But I read that it’s usually in a virus’ interest to mutate and become more infectious but less deadly. The Dr stated that 10000 years ago or do it was likely that the when the common cold first around it was very deadly… a very good more recent example is the flu. When it first came it killed millions of healthy young adult but nowadays most won’t die from it. A mixture of natural immunity and the way its mutated.

you are right. Viruses want to survive and reproduce. Killing its host is detrimental to that, as it can‘t be spread afterwards and dies with the host.
 
you are right. Viruses want to survive and reproduce. Killing its host is detrimental to that, as it can‘t be spread afterwards and dies with the host.
Not necessarily. If it can spread for several days, killing the host, won't matter.

Viruses do not want anything, they just spread. If they can efficiently spread, then the mutations that will make them lethal, likely won't provide any advantage for it to become dominant.
 
Genuinely fascinating and encouraging commentary on why we shouldn't panic just yet and in particular why a PCR test on a vaccinated individual showing that they're infected shouldn't scare the rest of us into thinking that the vaccines have stopped working.

One for people who would like a bit of hope along with the doom and gloom.



Thanks for this. Is a good read indeed. Thoroughly recommended for anyone feeling a bit down in the dumps about this omicron twat of a variant.
 
Not necessarily. If it can spread for several days, killing the host, won't matter.

Viruses do not want anything, they just spread. If they can efficiently spread, then the mutations that will make them lethal, likely won't provide any advantage for it to become dominant.

I‘m aware they don‘t have a will in that kind of sense, I meant what their evolutionary determination might be. For the other part, you are right - efficient spread is key to persist, not necessarily surviving. What I meant is that a reduction of pathogenicity of pathogenes is connected with a higher reproduction rate. Many herpes viruses are living the viral dream by spreading to around 90% yet persisting a whole life of a human.
but you are right, my words were chosen poorly as efficient spread is key which doesn’t necessarily mean survival
 
Well i hope that he beats it soon and fully. Poor little fella.

I got word from my sons school today that a kid in his pod is covid positive and his parents had sent him in whilst knowing he was positive. Disgusting! We actually got our son tested on Monday this week as he had a bad cough but it was negative. Thankfully it’s almost gone
That's ridiculous! I can't comprehend why the parents would even consider doing that!

Fingers crossed your son remains Covid free.
 
Well i hope that he beats it soon and fully. Poor little fella.

I got word from my sons school today that a kid in his pod is covid positive and his parents had sent him in whilst knowing he was positive. Disgusting! We actually got our son tested on Monday this week as he had a bad cough but it was negative. Thankfully it’s almost gone

I feel like these people should be reported to the police, honestly. I know no one likes to shit where they eat, but they should be punished accordingly. It‘s criminal assault. Disgusting, almost unbelievable.
 
You shouldn't get stressed out. You should try and make sure that you, your family, your friends and anyone else you can influence are fully vaccinated and get the booster if they're eligible.

Too late I've already started stockpiling toilet paper.

Everyone I know is fully vaxxed.
 
From a psychological view this will cause more stress and fear amongst some people because of how quickly it’s escalated… identified yesterday, flights banned, present in Europe, named by WHO all within 24 hours or so. In contrast with previous variants where the same process has been much slower.

Could look at it in a positive. Governments are acting quicker, research is better so we’re better prepared. But of course scientists know very little about this new variant, so best thing is to wait for the scientific view on how infectious and deadly Vs other variants and if vaccines work on it.

Yeah I guess we'll see how it works out.
When are we going to find out if this cnut is vaccine resistant or not?
 
On a scale of one to ten how stressed out should I be right now?
Well, from my point of view, I’m not stressed about it. For context, I landed at Heathrow at 0730 yesterday morning having been on holiday in South Africa since 30th October. We’ve done a lateral flow test which was negative, and the Test & Trace service actually sent me a text message earlier today saying that they were sending us a couple of PCR test kits they’d like us to complete.
 
Well, from my point of view, I’m not stressed about it. For context, I landed at Heathrow at 0730 yesterday morning having been on holiday in South Africa since 30th October. We’ve done a lateral flow test which was negative, and the Test & Trace service actually sent me a text message earlier today saying that they were sending us a couple of PCR test kits they’d like us to complete.
That's interesting. I guess the PCR tests are being sent based on your passenger locator form. Good sign if they are following up despite you completing the mandatory LFT. No request to quarantine at home though I guess?
 
Well, from my point of view, I’m not stressed about it. For context, I landed at Heathrow at 0730 yesterday morning having been on holiday in South Africa since 30th October. We’ve done a lateral flow test which was negative, and the Test & Trace service actually sent me a text message earlier today saying that they were sending us a couple of PCR test kits they’d like us to complete.
We know who to blame now if this fecker runs rife here :)
 
Well, from my point of view, I’m not stressed about it. For context, I landed at Heathrow at 0730 yesterday morning having been on holiday in South Africa since 30th October. We’ve done a lateral flow test which was negative, and the Test & Trace service actually sent me a text message earlier today saying that they were sending us a couple of PCR test kits they’d like us to complete.

So why exactly are you not stressed?
 
Yeah I guess we'll see how it works out.
When are we going to find out if this cnut is vaccine resistant or not?
I’d guess once the scientist have a wide enough sample… at the moment they are concerned due to the amount of mutations in the spike proteins. “I’m just parroting what I’ve read there”. But my layman’s understanding is that the more mutations in that then the more likely it is for variant to become more resistant to vaccines or if enough mutations completely evade it. But I guess they won’t/can’t say conclusively until they they have enough data.
 
So, South Africa will act as guinea pig for the world. Good thing I live far away from SA.

Oh, wait.
Not really. Our scientists and government were stupid enough to think being transparent and warning the world wouldn’t have terrible economic repercussions. This variant will be everywhere soon enough, if it isn’t already - the Belgian who has it had no close contact to anyone from South Africa.
 
That's interesting. I guess the PCR tests are being sent based on your passenger locator form. Good sign if they are following up despite you completing the mandatory LFT. No request to quarantine at home though I guess?
Yep…
Gov text message said:
You have been identified as someone who has travelled recently from or through a red list country. A free PCR test will shortly be delivered to the address provided on your Passenger Locator Form. It is strongly requested that you register, complete this test and return it as soon as practically possible.
Because we arrived before midday Friday we still follow the original rules so no quarantine etc.
 
Not really. Our scientists and government were stupid enough to think being transparent and warning the world wouldn’t have terrible economic repercussions. This variant will be everywhere soon enough, if it isn’t already - the Belgian who has it had no close contact to anyone from South Africa.
It's spreading in SA. We have far more cases than the rest of the world - hence, we are guinea pigs. And it's the start of the December holidays...
 
So why exactly are you not stressed?
Because this virus is here to stay, we’ve spent nearly 2 years dealing with it so far and all of this stuff (testing, masks, vaccinations, rule changes etc) is our new normal. Getting stressed about it won’t make it go away.
 
Because this virus is here to stay, we’ve spent nearly 2 years dealing with it so far and all of this stuff (testing, masks, vaccinations, rule changes etc) is our new normal. Getting stressed about it won’t make it go away.

being stressed isn't a rational decision based on logic

omicron makes me fecking stressed at least! Now I know that Pfizer said they'd need around 90 days to adjust to the new virus, but let's be real - until we all can get the jab, it'll take another additional 90 to 180 days or even more, considering how the distribution went with the last vaccine. Yea, sure, we now have better infrastructure and what not, but if our government (german) is up to the task is not easy to tell. Which kind of means we will most likely end up in a scenario without vaccines again for quite a time...and what happens then? This is becoming a vicious circle. To even think that it's not unlikely at all that we haven't even hit the peak of the pandemic is absolutely vomit inducing.
 
Now confirmed that nu was skipped to avoid confusion with ‘new’, and Xi was skipped cause of President Xi.

What happens when we run out of letters?
 
Does it have same symptoms or even more serious?
No one knows - it's far too early to call. The cases we definitely know about are mostly asymptomatic (and picked up in travel or similar routine testing) or with mild/moderate symptoms (as found in an unvaxxed woman in Belgium). That's like most covid cases.
 
Now confirmed that nu was skipped to avoid confusion with ‘new’, and Xi was skipped cause of President Xi.

What happens when we run out of letters?
Will probably add pro and pro max with the existing names :D .
 
A friend of mine asked the other day if there is any way we could be walking around without masks in a year from now. I said even though the scientific opinion is divided on this matter, a year from now this would all just be a nightmare. We would've moved on and learned to live with COVID. Is this accurate, within the means of possibility. Yay or nay?
 
Response so far seems measured. A lot we don’t know. The doomsday mouthwatering from some is a bit weird though given how little anyone knows. Reminds me of the good old days before the pandemic when you’d see people almost desperate that every single minor military skirmish would turn into WW3
 
being stressed isn't a rational decision based on logic

omicron makes me fecking stressed at least! Now I know that Pfizer said they'd need around 90 days to adjust to the new virus, but let's be real - until we all can get the jab, it'll take another additional 90 to 180 days or even more, considering how the distribution went with the last vaccine. Yea, sure, we now have better infrastructure and what not, but if our government (german) is up to the task is not easy to tell. Which kind of means we will most likely end up in a scenario without vaccines again for quite a time...and what happens then? This is becoming a vicious circle. To even think that it's not unlikely at all that we haven't even hit the peak of the pandemic is absolutely vomit inducing.

Circles don't have peaks