COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Joe Biden 2028]

Members of congress no longer need to wear a mask at the state of the union. When do you think capital tours will resume?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

It's actually conceivable (but not very likely) that the 7-day average case count in the U.S. (according to my spreadsheet) might get below 60,000 today.

It would be the first time since July 28.

[Frodo]

They might need to up the dosage just a bit even if there's a higher likelihood of side effects if these vaccines are to have more beneficial impact for children:

Pfizer Shot Is Far Less Effective in 5- to 11-Year-Olds Than in Older Kids, New Data Show
While protection against hospitalization is still strong, the vaccine offered almost no protection against infection, even just a month after full vaccination.

The coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech is much less effective in preventing infection in children ages 5 to 11 years than in older adolescents or adults, according to a large new set of data collected by health officials in New York State — a finding that has deep ramifications for these children and their parents.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only Covid shot authorized for that age group in the United States. It still prevents severe illness in the children, but offers virtually no protection against infection, even within a month after full immunization, the data, which were collected during the Omicron surge, suggest.

The sharp drop in the vaccine’s performance in young children may stem from the fact that they receive one-third the dose given to older children and adults, researchers and federal officials who have reviewed the data said.

The findings, which were posted online on Monday, come on the heels of clinical trial results indicating that the vaccine fared poorly in children aged 2 to 4 years, who received an even smaller dose.

Experts worried that the news would further dissuade hesitant parents from immunizing their children. Other studies have shown the vaccine was not powerfully protective against infection with the Omicron variant in adults, either.

[Frodo]

This is the first update to our COVID strategy since the pandemic began two years ago:

White House to unveil blueprint for the next Covid phase
The document will be put out after the State of the Union address and chart a more cautiously optimistic path forward.

The White House is planning to unveil its wide-ranging strategy for the next phase of the pandemic response on Wednesday morning, according to an internal document obtained by POLITICO.

The Covid-19 strategy is expected to lay out how the nation can safely ease public health restrictions and restore some sense of normalcy as the U.S. enters what officials hope will be a less disruptive endemic stage of the virus.

Biden officials have consulted for weeks with a range of outside advisers, governors and business executives to compile the sweeping plan, which comes as the Omicron surge wanes and cases plummet across the country.

While the White House remains reluctant to declare the pandemic over, the strategy is likely to make a case for scaling back public health measures, people familiar with the matter said — pointing to the growing availability of vaccines and treatments capable of better protecting Americans from the virus.

The strategy is also expected to lay out how the administration plans to prepare for and react to potential future surges, leaving the door open for the need to reimpose certain protections if another dangerous variant hits the U.S.

The administration is exploring how to streamline the process of obtaining treatment for Covid-19 by setting up so-called 'test to treat' programs at pharmacies and other entities, according to a source familiar with the plan. The idea is that people with Covid-19 symptoms should be able to go to a location where they could be tested for the virus and prescribed a treatment like an antiviral pill if an infection is detected.

[emailking]

Masks are done.

[Calthrina950]

Masks are done.

Only about a dozen or so people were masked at the State of the Union. That's a good thing.

[emailking]

Masks are done.

Only about a dozen or so people were masked at the State of the Union. That's a good thing.

I think all of the mandates that would affect me significantly are gone now. I don't care that much if I have to wear a mask at the doctor's or the airport. Though I expect the latter is on its last legs too.

[Lief 🗽]

The non-MRNA vaccine seems to be comparatively useless against Omicron.

https://twitter.com/InfectiousDz/status/1499091948606472205

[Mr. Illini]

A few days in to the end of Illinois' six-month-long mask mandate, almost no one is wearing them from what I have seen, except for the Ash Wednesday service that I attended this evening where almost everyone was wearing them.

I wonder if people who attend Mass are more likely to wear a mask or if people feel more guilty at Mass and put them on while there.

[MATTROSE94]

A few days in to the end of Illinois' six-month-long mask mandate, almost no one is wearing them from what I have seen, except for the Ash Wednesday service that I attended this evening where almost everyone was wearing them.

I wonder if people who attend Mass are more likely to wear a mask or if people feel more guilty at Mass and put them on while there.

A lot of the Catholic Churches, synagogues, and mosques at least in New York and New Jersey are very strict about masking as well. Not so much with Protestant churches however.

[GregTheGreat657]

After the first day of NYS' school mask mandate expriring, I was kind of surprised at how many kids still wore masks. My school could have done a better job of getting rid of the signs telling readers that masks were required. The principal of my school went on the announcements this morning to say that the mandate was officially lifted. A few observations that I made were that girls were more likely to wear masks than boys, and more introverted students were more likely to wear masks. I chose not to wear a mask, and it felt weird in a good way.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

After the first day of NYS' school mask mandate expriring, I was kind of surprised at how many kids still wore masks.

I'm more surprised at the high compliance in schools with a mandate. In my day, almost nobody would have complied.

[“Boy” And In Some Cases “Gal”]

A few days in to the end of Illinois' six-month-long mask mandate, almost no one is wearing them from what I have seen, except for the Ash Wednesday service that I attended this evening where almost everyone was wearing them.

I wonder if people who attend Mass are more likely to wear a mask or if people feel more guilty at Mass and put them on while there.

Still seeing a lot in my neighborhood, though mostly outside. My office lifted their mask requirement on Monday and 99% of people immediately ditched them.

[Lief 🗽]

I have seen essentially zero change in NYC since the mask mandate was lifted. Nearly everyone is still masked indoors.

[Calthrina950]

I have seen essentially zero change in NYC since the mask mandate was lifted. Nearly everyone is still masked indoors.

After the first day of NYS' school mask mandate expriring, I was kind of surprised at how many kids still wore masks. My school could have done a better job of getting rid of the signs telling readers that masks were required. The principal of my school went on the announcements this morning to say that the mandate was officially lifted. A few observations that I made were that girls were more likely to wear masks than boys, and more introverted students were more likely to wear masks. I chose not to wear a mask, and it felt weird in a good way.

This is not surprising. So many people have become acclimated to wearing masks over the last two years, and it's not going to be an easy habit to shake for some of them. Like I've said before, ~10-20% of the customers and employees at my job continue to mask up, probably for the same reasons. It will be months before we see these numbers diminish.

[Dr. MB]

I have seen essentially zero change in NYC since the mask mandate was lifted. Nearly everyone is still masked indoors.

It’s gonna be a slow climb down for a lot of folks. Saw the same thing happen last summer on a lesser scale.

[Ferguson97]

After the first day of NYS' school mask mandate expriring, I was kind of surprised at how many kids still wore masks.

I'm more surprised at the high compliance in schools with a mandate. In my day, almost nobody would have complied.

How old are you and what part of Kentucky are you from? Curious what demographic is causing this discrepancy.

IME kids nowadays just aren't as rebellious.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

After the first day of NYS' school mask mandate expriring, I was kind of surprised at how many kids still wore masks.

I'm more surprised at the high compliance in schools with a mandate. In my day, almost nobody would have complied.

How old are you and what part of Kentucky are you from? Curious what demographic is causing this discrepancy.

IME kids nowadays just aren't as rebellious.

I'm 48. I'm from northern Kentucky.

[Raccoon]

I have seen essentially zero change in NYC since the mask mandate was lifted. Nearly everyone is still masked indoors.

Northern Virginia.. a significant amount are masking but well under 50%!

Closer to 20% tbh.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

We just got an email from the president of my university that they are -not- lifting our mask mandate as many of us had expected, because we are still in an are of "high" transmission according to the CDC. :/

[Trump Is A Maoist]

We just got an email from the president of my university that they are -not- lifting our mask mandate as many of us had expected, because we are still in an are of "high" transmission according to the CDC. :/

Give it a few weeks. I doubt it will last.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Even our big university lifted theirs.

[Calthrina950]

We just got an email from the president of my university that they are -not- lifting our mask mandate as many of us had expected, because we are still in an are of "high" transmission according to the CDC. :/

Universities appear to be the last major holdouts across the country, with regards to lifting their mask requirements.

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1499783316739956737

Murphy says today will be the final covid briefing, calls it an endemic

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

We just got an email from the president of my university that they are -not- lifting our mask mandate as many of us had expected, because we are still in an are of "high" transmission according to the CDC. :/

Give it a few weeks. I doubt it will last.

Even though our case number are in "low/medium" territory, our region is now at 41 hospital admissions/100,000.  We need to get below 20 before we are out of "high" transmission. 

I have to admit, I still get several emails a week saying another kid at my daughter's day care had newly tested positive.  I'm a little surprised by this given how much case numbers have dropped nationwide.