COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Aurelius]

I just don't know where you're seeing this. I only know about BA.2 because of this thread.

My parents were talking about it last night. They were pretty worried about it. I think they watched a fearmongering TV segment about it.

[emailking]

At long last, will Joe Biden rid us of this ridiculous man and his dictates?

There's nothing wrong with what Fauci said. If you don't want a mandate, then what he said should be very encouraging to you.

[emailking]

I just don't know where you're seeing this. I only know about BA.2 because of this thread.

My parents were talking about it last night. They were pretty worried about it. I think they watched a fearmongering TV segment about it.

I guess some outlets are reporting on BA.2. On MSNBC and CNN I haven't seen anything on Covid, beyond a passing mention, in weeks.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Like emailking, I have yet to hear of BA.2 anywhere except this forum and fearmongerers on Twitter.

Anyway:

Vox has a great video up analyzing what caused conservatives to turn against the Covid vaccine. It notes that anti-vax sentiment previously was not very partisan and mostly just limited to fringe cranks on both sides, and that Democrats and Republicans get the flu shot annual at almost exactly the same rate. The theory the creator of the video determined is that Trump tried to downplay Covid for political purposes and state that it wasn't very serious. This was parroted by right-wing hack media outlets like Fox News that have become the only such outlets Republicans trust, and thus the mindset became "if this isn't such a big deal, why are they pushing this vaccine on us?" and thus even though Fox initially tried to promote the vaccine, the anti-vax theories from the cranks who were reading QAnon blogs and Alex Jones-type stuff managed to reach mainstream conservatism and develop critical mass, and eventually Fox heeled (at least publicly, it still has vaccine mandates for its own employees.) Another factor I think missed is the vaccine wasn't available to the general public until well after Trump was out of office and banned on Twitter, meaning he had no way to promote it as his accomplishment (which initially was the message of the Republicans and Fox), thus drowning the main right-wing voice in favor of the vaccine.

It all makes sense but I have a theory that the inverse also occurred with a certain set of liberals (profiled in this NY Times piece) who as noted per polls results in strange numbers like under 45 age Democrats being more concerned and afraid of Covid than Democrats over 65, even if those senior Democrats identify as "liberal" (as opposed to "very liberal" which is more common amongst under 45s)...the reaction to the right-wing propaganda was to actually overplay Covid and today a lot are still buying that reaction even if the new skepticism against Covid restrictions is often from fellow liberal Democrats. This also explains the rather bizarre Arthur Chu camp of the belief of "The Covid vaccine was a mistake, we should've just forced everyone in lockdown and social distancing until it went away...also you should wear a mask for the rest of your life", I actually noted this here, we now have a pretty stark split amongst even the left on this, the group that stands out in that poll is basically the online woke crowd I mentioned in that poll, even while most liberals seem to now just take the position of "take the vaccine and then return your life to normal" which is now the overwhelming position here.

The good news is I don't think these people have any real influence in the real world, as evidenced by all 50 states repealing mask mandates and also basically all cities and everywhere except a few colleges and mass transit (and I doubt even that mandate lasts until November) and virtually no restrictions on mass gatherings aside from the private businesses that still enforce vaccine mandates. And that's very unlikely to change. Even the fearmongering over BA.2 is a bit contradictory, for example if BA.2 now makes about a quarter of all Covid cases in the US (as I've seen some claim), yet Covid cases in the US continue to plummet...then it would stand to reason that BA.2 is in fact not some superbug that can evade all immunity from vaccines or previous infection and will surge cases again.

[Pericles]

I just don't know where you're seeing this. I only know about BA.2 because of this thread.

I overheard a segment on ABC News where they were talking to Dr. Fauci about the BA.2 variant and he was expressing his concerns about a resurgence in cases. Specifically, Fauci said that we "might" have to return to precautions, such as mask-wearing and the like, although he is hopeful that won't be the case and did say that we are in a better situation now than previously.

He was not saying that about BA2, he just said that the situation might change and it was a basic statement that they should be flexible. If a new variant turns up, they shouldn't have to respond to it in the same way as Omicron but decide what the best response is at the time.

[Calthrina950]

I just don't know where you're seeing this. I only know about BA.2 because of this thread.

I overheard a segment on ABC News where they were talking to Dr. Fauci about the BA.2 variant and he was expressing his concerns about a resurgence in cases. Specifically, Fauci said that we "might" have to return to precautions, such as mask-wearing and the like, although he is hopeful that won't be the case and did say that we are in a better situation now than previously.

He was not saying that about BA2, he just said that the situation might change and it was a basic statement that they should be flexible. If a new variant turns up, they shouldn't have to respond to it in the same way as Omicron but decide what the best response is at the time.

I'll remind you that the mask mandates were reimposed last year in response to the Delta variant, not to Omicron, and were maintained in many jurisdictions in this country until relatively recently. Fauci made reference to masks as a potential "mitigation" measure, and his words certainly seemed to imply that some level of restrictions could return. I think you underestimate where many Americans stand on this at this point, and the desire to move past the past two years.

[Pericles]

I just don't know where you're seeing this. I only know about BA.2 because of this thread.

I overheard a segment on ABC News where they were talking to Dr. Fauci about the BA.2 variant and he was expressing his concerns about a resurgence in cases. Specifically, Fauci said that we "might" have to return to precautions, such as mask-wearing and the like, although he is hopeful that won't be the case and did say that we are in a better situation now than previously.

He was not saying that about BA2, he just said that the situation might change and it was a basic statement that they should be flexible. If a new variant turns up, they shouldn't have to respond to it in the same way as Omicron but decide what the best response is at the time.

I'll remind you that the mask mandates were reimposed last year in response to the Delta variant, not to Omicron, and were maintained in many jurisdictions in this country until relatively recently. Fauci made reference to masks as a potential "mitigation" measure, and his words certainly seemed to imply that some level of restrictions could return. I think you underestimate where many Americans stand on this at this point, and the desire to move past the past two years.

Yeah, I'm saying they ditched them because Omicron was mild. The example of Delta does show how the virus became more dangerous and so they brought masks back then. If they have to act, they have to act and can't be held back by the decision they made about Omicron. It seems unlikely they will need to reverse and let's hope Covid just keeps becoming milder.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

At long last, will Joe Biden rid us of this ridiculous man and his dictates?

There's nothing wrong with what Fauci said. If you don't want a mandate, then what he said should be very encouraging to you.

The only encouragement that I have heard from Fauci recently was the implication that he is near retirement.

"You can go ahead and continue to tiptoe towards normality, which is what we're doing, but at the same time, be aware that you may have to reverse." Absolutely not.

This is not about mandates. It hasn't been for a long time. The people who talk like this are a threat to our way of life. We will spend the next few years recovering from the economic and social harm that this period has wrought, and it is essential that we not allow safetyism and its acolytes to damage us further.

So…you’re upset over people telling the truth. Sounds about right.

[emailking]

At long last, will Joe Biden rid us of this ridiculous man and his dictates?

There's nothing wrong with what Fauci said. If you don't want a mandate, then what he said should be very encouraging to you.

The only encouragement that I have heard from Fauci recently was the implication that he is near retirement.

"You can go ahead and continue to tiptoe towards normality, which is what we're doing, but at the same time, be aware that you may have to reverse." Absolutely not.

This is not about mandates. It hasn't been for a long time. The people who talk like this are a threat to our way of life. We will spend the next few years recovering from the economic and social harm that this period has wrought, and it is essential that we not allow safetyism and its acolytes to damage us further.

So you're upset that he said we might have to have restrictions again at some point in the future, even though he said he's hopeful we won't?

[emailking]

So you're upset that he said we might have to have restrictions again at some point in the future, even though he said he's hopeful we won't?

Obviously. We should be leading the world out of this mess, not falling behind. Our leaders should be telling us that it is our obligation as citizens to live without any disruptions related to containing the spread of the virus.

We need to fix our economy, build our way out of this housing shortage, and help the children and young people who lost important years of development, to say nothing of the war effort in Ukraine. We don't have more time or wealth to waste on this futile effort.

Ok well your disappointment is not justified. I can tell you right now we might have to have restrictions again, and if we do there's nothing you can do about it. Is it likely to happen? Not at all. But if he's asked if it could happen, he's telling you a lie if he says no it couldn't. If you asked him in 2019 he probably would have given a similar answer. There's no way to know when a deadly virus is going to materialize. And nobody has an obligation live like they did in 2019. That's ridiculous.

[emailking]

I don't think Fauci is a political leader. The virus could mutate into something that compels measures to be taken whether they're sustainable or not, and I don't think he should pretend like that's not possible. What I took from his comments was basically we're done with restrictions, but it can't be ruled out.

[Raccoon]

Most of the covid fear mongering is a political agenda.

We are several decades ahead of a need for a universal basic income.

And to the people who talk about how much of the developed world hunkered down during covid and the United States had looser restrictions? Well, our economy is very different from theirs.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

For no apparent reason, Austria just brang back its mask mandate "out of an abundance of caution."

[Raccoon]

I remember many liberals said a year ago, "we did all this stuff to stop covid and it stopped the flu but not covid"

Okay.. what was your point ? No one can control it.

It was 2021 not 2121...

[Zohranism is OUR future]

Because Covid really isn’t as much of an issue as it was, this thread has turned into one where people discuss current events and policy to one where some salty anti-maskers cry about restrictions that don’t even exist anymore.
What’s next, are y’all gonna start worrying about the Ottoman Empire?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

What we should be talking about now is how the legal system should hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

What we should be talking about now is how the legal system should hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.

LMFAO never change.

[emailking]

What we should be talking about now is how the legal system should hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.

Are you talking about the deaths or the mandates?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

What we should be talking about now is how the legal system should hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.

Are you talking about the deaths or the mandates?

I'm talking about mandates that ended up ruining people's lives.

[emailking]

Ok have at it I guess but I'm good not talking about that lol.

[emailking]

So I have now seen BA.2 mentioned briefly on MSNBC and increasing cases in Europe mentioned on CNN.

Saw a clip of Fauci being asked about new restrictions, he said he didn't think we would be going back to the restrictions but we have to maintain the flexibility to do so.

[Andrew Cuomo is a No Go]

Still have not seen BA.2 mentioned a single time except on Atlas; in threads where people complain about the supposed hysteria over it. Also have not seen anything anywhere about reimplementing restrictions (though my University was late in relaxing them, only doing so in the last two weeks).

Don't understand what people in this thread are getting themselves all worked up about. I do understand why people might feel resentment and strong feelings over the imo unnecessary Omicron restrictions, but I don't see any evidence of the things people are claiming to still see in this thread.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

Still have not seen BA.2 mentioned a single time except on Atlas; in threads where people complain about the supposed hysteria over it. Also have not seen anything anywhere about reimplementing restrictions (though my University was late in relaxing them, only doing so in the last two weeks).

Don't understand what people in this thread are getting themselves all worked up about. I do understand why people might feel resentment and strong feelings over the Omicron, but I don't see any evidence of the things people are claiming to still see in this thread.

The third triumvirate of ‘rona (Jimmie, Averroes, and Bandit) never really cared about the situation on the ground and honestly probably never actually cared about any of this s**t in general, they really just want to virtue signal how anti restriction they are against something that doesn’t even exist anymore.

[Raccoon]

https://twitter.com/ReubenR80027912/status/1504777326969696280

[Raccoon]

I was actually glad to see the photo of the crowded high school in Georgia, which looked almost like any ordinary school year. I thought Georgia had one of the worse rates of COVID right now.

If Georgia can get this close to normal, most other places can.

Did you see the article I posted earlier that Cherokee County, the first district to open yesterday, has already had to send home a second-grade class and teacher to quarantine for 14 days because one of the students has tested positive?  

This is nothing more than an illusion of normality.

they should not have EVER been quarantined.