COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[ConservativeRepublican]

The COVID death rate is so minimal, under a tenth of a percent. Less people would have died if we didn't react so strongly and let society continue as normal. Our economy and culture has suffered long enough.

[MiddleRoad]

The COVID death rate is so minimal, under a tenth of a percent. Less people would have died if we didn't react so strongly and let society continue as normal. Our economy and culture has suffered long enough.

The only time in my 31 years of life I’ve ever considered suicide was when NYC was in “show your vax card to do anything” status. I felt like a prisoner, someone on house arrest. It had a massively negative effect on my emotional health. I have to imagine I’m not alone and that others may have suffered from severe emotional strain as a result of Covid restrictions.

[Aurelius]

Seasonal viruses tend to do this. If you're scared get another booster and wear your mask.

COVID is not seasonal. Also, I can't get another booster, because fourth shots haven't been authorized for people my age (21.)

Lie and get another shot if you want. Millions of people got a third shot before boosters were officially authorized for anyone. AFAIK there is no vaccine supply issue here in the US so you will not be hurting anyone by doing this.

[Pericles]

Republicans need to put ballot measures in every state that bans the state from being able to implement any restrictions

I would support such a measure as long as "any restrictions" doesn't include vaccine mandates. Those I support because I'm vaccinated so they don't inconvenience or cause harm to me any. Mandated social distancing and mask mandates do.

Mandated vaccines do harm to those who may not, out of concern for their own personal health, want to take the vaccine; and in turn, restricting those people from daily life (in essence, almost placing them on a form of house arrest) has profound negative psychological effects as well.

If people have a legitimate medical reason not to take the vaccine, they will be able to get a medical exemption in any sane vaccine pass system. However, because vaccination only slightly reduces transmissibility, the restriction on people's freedoms is no longer justified in most cases.

[emailking]

I've decided I want another booster. I hope they authorize it soon.

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

Are they trying to set the scene to bring back the mandates?

Probably. If the Democrats try to bring the mandates back, they will be lucky to hold onto about 50 House seats and will only hold onto California, Vermont, and Hawaii in terms of the Senate races. I do see a lot more people on Twitter expressing support for reinstating stringent COVID mandates, so that is something to keep in mind.

Hmm. I think you're being too much of a Democratic hack.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

The hilarious thing about SnowLabrador's freakout is that the main reason the FDA hasn't authorized another booster for non-immunocompromised people under 50 is that the vaccine wouldn't even be all that effective anyway, studies show that the immunity boost wanes very quickly. Vaccines have a huge "diminishing returns" effect, but this is actually a good thing: It's because the immune system then no longer treats the infection as new and unique and it's just same old so there's no need to spawn such an extreme reaction. Also the fact that the current vaccines are not designed for the current variants, likely there will be authorization for new vaccines once those are created. But it's really not a big deal, a 21-year old who has been fully vaxxed and boosted even if they were just boosted six months ago isn't at any more threat from Covid than a cold, they still have enough T-cells to deal with it fairly easily. Plus there's evidence people who catch it after being vaccinated get "titanium immunity" and another breakthrough case is basically impossible. So if 100 million people catch it and say 2/3 of them are vaccinated, that means over 66 million people aren't going to catch it ever again, in addition to however many got titanium immune during the Omicron surge. I don't know if I'm one of these because I've never tested positive for Covid, but it's also why I'm not worried at all.

If they come out with another vaccine designed for the current variants I'll go ahead and get another booster, but this is also why I'm in no hurry despite my booster being over six months ago.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

Republicans need to put ballot measures in every state that bans the state from being able to implement any restrictions

That isn't small government or "states rights". Reagan would be ashamed.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Republicans need to put ballot measures in every state that bans the state from being able to implement any restrictions

That isn't small government or "states rights". Reagan would be ashamed.

Ballot Measures are the definition of states rights

[Frodo]

Are they trying to set the scene to bring back the mandates?

Doubtful.  I think more than anything they want congressional Republicans to fund their full $22.5 billion COVID funding request and not be so parsimonious when there is still a pandemic.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

Republicans need to put ballot measures in every state that bans the state from being able to implement any restrictions

That isn't small government or "states rights". Reagan would be ashamed.

Ballot Measures are the definition of states rights

Sorry I misread your post, somehow skipped over the word "ballot". You're right.

I still don't understand writing laws to prevent public health measures in potentially high risk scenarios. Seems like a "feelings over facts" kind of thing.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

Are they trying to set the scene to bring back the mandates?

Doubtful.  I think more than anything they want congressional Republicans to fund their full $22.5 billion COVID funding request and not be so parsimonious when there is still a pandemic.

"Omicron was the off ramp, the pandemic is over".

[politicallefty]

I'm okay using my mask in grocery stores and other indoor public places like that. It doesn't bother me. It's only a facial covering. I still see many people with them. I haven't even had a cold in at two years or so, so I'm fine. Even vaccinated and boosted, I know I still might get it (or I might have already). I prefer to not get sick at all, so I'm sticking with the mask in most places. It's not foolproof, of course, but mitigation isn't a bad idea.

[Badger]

The COVID death rate is so minimal, under a tenth of a percent. Less people would have died if we didn't react so strongly and let society continue as normal. Our economy and culture has suffered long enough.

The only time in my 31 years of life I’ve ever considered suicide was when NYC was in “show your vax card to do anything” status. I felt like a prisoner, someone on house arrest. It had a massively negative effect on my emotional health. I have to imagine I’m not alone and that others may have suffered from severe emotional strain as a result of Covid restrictions.

I'm not wishing to belittle your mental health struggles,  but if the requirement of showing your vaccination card to donthings caused you to feel suicidal, you need to seek help immediately as there are much deeper issues at play here having nothing to do with covid restrictions.

[ProudModerate2]

The COVID death rate is so minimal, under a tenth of a percent. Less people would have died if we didn't react so strongly and let society continue as normal. Our economy and culture has suffered long enough.

The only time in my 31 years of life I’ve ever considered suicide was when NYC was in “show your vax card to do anything” status. I felt like a prisoner, someone on house arrest. It had a massively negative effect on my emotional health. I have to imagine I’m not alone and that others may have suffered from severe emotional strain as a result of Covid restrictions.

I'm not wishing to belittle your mental health struggles,  but if the requirement of showing your vaccination card to donthings caused you to feel suicidal, you need to seek help immediately as there are much deeper issues at play here having nothing to do with covid restrictions.

This.
Not joking. You should seek some counseling.

[Doomer]

No, it'll never end.

There will be no herd immunity, and the virus will just mutate endlessly. This is life now.

Do you think we should wear masks 24/7, even in our homes, forever?

I mean, Covid is worse than the Black Death after all.

I mean, Covid is worse than the Black Death after all.

SnowLabrador and the Trump Virus seem to think it is.

No, we shouldn't have anymore mask mandates and we shouldn't have more lockdowns.

Covid isn't close to the Black Death but you're an idiot if you think it's a simple cold.

You guys think that urging caution means we want Americans stuck in their homes forever?

[Doomer]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/06/politics/white-house-covid-fall-wave/index.html

The worst wave yet is coming, precisely because people have stopped caring.

People like you are why Republicans will win in 2022 and 24.

Inflation and gas prices are why Republicans will win.

But yea, "the worst wave yet" is probably not coming....

[Banana Republican]

People like you are why Republicans will win in 2022 and 24.

C'mon, don't make such patently obviously specious arguments like that. Everyone with half a brain knows that the reason why Republicans will win is because the US has a polarized FPTP 2 party electoral system, and whichever party doesn't control the Presidency is basically always going to lose as a result out of a mixture of complacency on its part and motivation on the part of he out-of-power party. Individual "issues" and people making claims about issues that you or anyone else may think are wrong are just the background noise upon on which that process occurs.

[Roll Roons]

Wow, must be a total coincidence:
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1522359506390458369

Not like I totally knew this would happen.

[Pericles]

If you do have genuine medical concerns about the vaccine, you should speak to your doctor and other medical professionals in your community. The vaccine is safe and effective for the vast, vast majority of people, and is much safer than getting Covid without being protected. So you can most likely get the reassurance you need if you ask. It is ok to want to be sure that the vaccine is the right thing for you, but I can't see why it's a good idea for you to leave yourself unprotected against a debilitating and deadly disease.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

https://twitter.com/charles_gaba/status/1523612439027195904

[Hammy]

No, it'll never end.

There will be no herd immunity, and the virus will just mutate endlessly. This is life now.

Do you think we should wear masks 24/7, even in our homes, forever?

I mean, Covid is worse than the Black Death after all.

I mean, Covid is worse than the Black Death after all.

SnowLabrador and the Trump Virus seem to think it is.

No, we shouldn't have anymore mask mandates and we shouldn't have more lockdowns.

Covid isn't close to the Black Death but you're an idiot if you think it's a simple cold.

You guys think that urging caution means we want Americans stuck in their homes forever?

Quite a few red avatars here have been advocating permanent restrictions, including one of the D-NY posters saying we should be acting like China.

[emailking]

There's an interesting article in SciAm this month and it says that Omicron was likely the fastest spreading virus in human history! It has specific mutations that mask the spike protein from antibodies, and it also developed an easier way of getting into cells. On the flip side, and apparently coincidentally, it has mutations that make it much worse at hiding from the immune system's alarm bells, which is why it's milder.

[Raccoon]

I noticed many liberals get covid worse than conservative i have a theory all their worrying makes them hypochondriac when they get covid

[Blue3]

I noticed many liberals get covid worse than conservative i have a theory all their worrying makes them hypochondriac when they get covid

Perhaps conservatives are more likely to hide it to prove they're tough.

Perhaps people with pre-existing conditions are more likely to support the party that said would protect them, and those same pre-existing conditions make them more likely to get COVID worse.

There's an interesting article in SciAm this month and it says that Omicron was likely the fastest spreading virus in human history! It has specific mutations that mask the spike protein from antibodies, and it also developed an easier way of getting into cells. On the flip side, and apparently coincidentally, it has mutations that make it much worse at hiding from the immune system's alarm bells, which is why it's milder.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-severe-previous-covid-variants-large-study-finds-2022-05-05/

Omicron as severe as other COVID variants -large U.S. study