Omicron variant

Linda Lee4 said:States are rolling out new restrictions because hospitalization rates are spiking despite high vaccination numbers, yet you're sitting there hoping that a vaccine designed for the Alpha strain can somehow pull its weight against Delta, let alone this new variant? That is some top-tier optimism right there.🤣

Just keep hoping; I have zero doubts that my recently acquired natural immunity will handle this strain just fine, assuming it even manages to spread rapidly enough to matter...

Exactly which strain are you immune to? Hopefully you only had mild symptoms, so you can pray for a light case if you get hit again. That is, assuming the next variant isn't significantly more lethal than the last ones.

Linda Lee4 said:States are rolling out new restrictions because hospitalization rates are spiking despite high vaccination numbers, yet you're sitting there hoping that a vaccine designed for the Alpha strain can somehow pull its weight against Delta, let alone this new variant? That is some top-tier optimism right there.🤣

Just keep hoping; I have zero doubts that my recently acquired natural immunity will handle this strain just fine, assuming it even manages to spread rapidly enough to matter...

It’s spreading pretty fast in Yosemite (according to preliminary reports, though we might see in a few days if it’s just a fluke) among a very experienced population. At least 70% of people in Yosemite have already dealt with previous variants, so we aren't exactly looking at an "immunologically naive" or "green" population here.

stormylynx14 said:Exactly which strain are you immune to? Hopefully you only had mild symptoms, so you can pray for a light case if you get hit again. That is, assuming the next variant isn't significantly more lethal than the last ones.

My symptoms were basically two hours of a 101-degree fever followed by a few days of a stuffed nose and some minor sinus pressure, with an occasional cough thrown in for good measure.

The strain was Delta or Delta+

Nathan Evans78 said:In the United States, one case was officially identified as the new B.1.1.529 variant—it popped up in someone traveling back from Egypt (on 11/11), and they started feeling under the weather around 22/11.

Word on the street is that Southern Africa supposedly has enough vaccine doses sitting there to cover their entire adult population for a month now, but even there, people seem pretty hesitant to take the plunge. ☕

If they actually went through with the vaccinations—even if everyone were 100% immunized—would that even be enough to stop this Variant from spreading?

Gerald Chavez7 said:It’s spreading pretty fast in Yosemite (according to preliminary reports, though we might see in a few days if it’s just a fluke) among a very experienced population. At least 70% of people in Yosemite have already dealt with previous variants, so we aren't exactly looking at an "immunologically naive" or "green" population here.

Now, this is certainly an interesting development. But the real question remains: has this actually been verified?

Are we really looking at a situation where 70% of the population has already built up natural immunity from prior infections, yet this new Variant is still managing to spread so aggressively?

Linda Harris59 said:Now, this is certainly an interesting development. But the real question remains: has this actually been verified?

Are we really looking at a situation where 70% of the population has already built up natural immunity from prior infections, yet this new Variant is still managing to spread so aggressively?

Well, seeing as 0.4% of the population has died, I'd say that's a pretty solid indicator. Let me see if I can dig up the link where I read this...

electrictrucker82 said:If they actually went through with the vaccinations—even if everyone were 100% immunized—would that even be enough to stop this Variant from spreading?

For me, the real priority is debunking that whole myth about how these massive new super-strains are going to emerge just because certain countries are politically divided. ☕

Here's a little update from Botswana

https://mobile.twitter.com/YoSoyNoCo...42406170275849

And this is the official—confirmed—report regarding the new strain over in Hong Kong

https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2021/11/...02145_582.html

Long story short—Alpha was hitting the elderly hard, Delta is targeting kids, and now "Nu"—which they've renamed "Omicron"—seems to love the warmth, so it's going after middle-aged folks and spreading through the air (think HVAC systems, AC, hallways...). It builds up, shifts, and then—BOOM!!!

By the way, we're seeing the first cases in Turkey too, thanks to people traveling from Egypt... as for the European Union, it's currently France and Belgium, plus the UK.

https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-...ant-of-concern

So, apparently this Variant is going to be called Omicron...

stormylynx14 said:This points to the suspicion that current shots offer significantly less protection against new mutations. While Delta didn't show massive differences, there are still notable gaps between different types, like vector vs. mRNA.

Look, the bottom line is that vaccine efficacy took a hit, dropping from about 60% down to 40% once the Delta+ variant showed up. I remember some guy from the WHO mentioning that on the news the other day.

Gerald Chavez7 said:https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-...ant-of-concern

So, apparently this Variant is going to be called Omicron...

Man, he was being way too soft about it... 😁

Samuel Doyle5 said:It is high time we put an end to COVID-19.

Bingo.

https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index...nav_id=2063450

There was also that COVID-19 film, but they banned it...

wiredrider982 said:There was also that COVID-19 film, but they banned it...

Just another dystopian flick that feels a little too much like our actual lives, I guess.

bluerider63 said:Just another dystopian flick that feels a little too much like our actual lives, I guess.

Yeah, exactly. Haven't seen it. I just caught some clips when it first dropped... I guess you could say it was banned, but we're basically living it right now...

South Park hit the nail on the head again... the COVID-19 Delta Plus Rewards Variant has finally arrived.

Nicole James said:For the time being, we’re just holding onto the hope that the vaccine maintains its efficacy. Beyond that, we have several new treatments on the horizon—medications specifically designed to bypass these mutations entirely. Regardless, we are definitely in a much stronger position now than we were previously.

The vaccine works... 🤦

Regarding the naming of this latest Variant... my apologies if someone has already shared this video where a gentleman discusses how public communication should be handled during a pandemic.
The video outlines essential principles for communicating with the public, and around the three-minute mark, he mentions that a disease—or an outbreak—needs a name that is simple and catchy. It immediately brought to mind the choice of name for this newest Variant.

vividfalcon31 said:The vaccine works... 🤦

We're looking at about 25% efficiency here.

Bluetooth doesn't work, there's no tracking chip or magnet involved, but hey, at least it protects you from COVID-19. 😁

This name is just wrong; they skipped ten letters. It was supposed to be epsilon🤔