COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Tintrlvr]

Wow, and anti-virals have been really disappointing compared to their perceived potential generally, so a very effective anti-viral is really a huge surprise (much more so than a successful vaccine).

[ProudModerate2]

Interesting. Aaron Rodgers confirms that he is unvaccinated, and has now tested positive for Covid. I guess he is experiencing mild symptoms.

He will miss Sunday's road game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid-19 NFL protocols.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/05/sport/aaron-rodgers-packers/index.html

[Mr. Illini]

https://twitter.com/JimmyTraina/status/1456669981173764104?s=20

D-bag. Go Bears.

[Frodo]

This is what 'America First' really means:

https://twitter.com/ErinBanco/status/1456751427989164032

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

This is what 'America First' really means:

https://twitter.com/ErinBanco/status/1456751427989164032

What does it mean beyond the clickbait title?

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Anyone have a read on how the antivaxxers are reacting to the Pfizer pill news?

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Anyone have a read on how the antivaxxers are reacting to the Pfizer pill news?

As best I can see, a lot of them are cheering it on and arguing that this proves the vaccines were never needed. They're weirdos.

[emailking]

Federal appeals court issues stay of Biden administration's vaccine mandate for private companies

A federal appeals court temporarily blocked the Biden administration's new vaccine rules that could apply to larger employers, certain health care workers and federal contractors.

A three-judge panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Saturday said in its order that the potential mandate is "stayed," citing "grave statuatory and constitutional issues," with the potential rules.

The Biden administration had announced earlier this week that its vaccine rules applying to private businesses with 100 or more employees, certain health care workers and federal contractors will take effect January 4.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/06/politics/court-blocks-biden-administration-vaccine-rule-larger-employers/index.html

I know there's another thread, but I think it should still be captured here.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1457438899580456968

Also, given what is happening in Europe now, I think, that another mini-wave is coming to US soon.

[emailking]

Pfizer and BioNTech seek FDA authorization for Covid-19 vaccine booster for all adults

Pfizer and BioNTech said on Tuesday they're seeking emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for a Covid-19 vaccine booster for all individuals age 18 and older. The companies are seeking an amendment to the existing EUA for booster doses for some adults.

The companies said the submission is based on results of a Phase 3 trial involving more than 10,000 participants; it found boosters were safe and had an efficacy of 95% against symptomatic Covid-19 compared with the two-dose vaccine schedule in the period when the highly transmissible Delta was the dominant strain. Pfizer released the booster efficacy data last month; it has not yet been peer-reviewed or published.

Authorization would bring the country one step closer to President Joe Biden's mid-August prediction that boosters would be available for all adults in the United States. When Pfizer initially sought the FDA's OK for booster doses, it applied for full approval of boosters for everyone age 16 and older. Instead, the FDA authorized boosters for a more limited group of adults once they were far enough past their initial vaccine doses.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/09/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-booster-authorization-adults/index.html

[Inmate Trump]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

[Horus]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

[DaleCooper]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

I fully expect near-permanent mask and distancing requirements in the more liberal parts of the country.

[Horus]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

I fully expect near-permanent mask and distancing requirements in the more liberal parts of the country.

Idk, Mayor Bottoms just removed the Atlanta mask mandate yesterday. I don't live in ATL but work and play there and had no idea there was even a mandate.

But in elitist lib strongholds like Berkeley and Boston you're probably right.

[Person Man]

https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1457438899580456968

Also, given what is happening in Europe now, I think, that another mini-wave is coming to US soon.

Luckily those heavily hit areas are sparsely populated and relatively well vaccinated.

[compucomp]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

I fully expect near-permanent mask and distancing requirements in the more liberal parts of the country.

It was a disaster to merge masking and social distancing in public health messaging. The public health agencies were well meaning, but the effect was that the hate for social distancing measures, which is justifiable given its damage to the economy and human social interaction, was transferred over to masking, which has almost zero cost in any sense.

Honestly society would hardly be changed from 2019 if we had perpetual indoor mask mandates and no other mitigation measure but you wouldn't know it from the people frothing at the mouth with irrational hate about masks.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

I fully expect near-permanent mask and distancing requirements in the more liberal parts of the country.

It was a disaster to merge masking and social distancing in public health messaging. The public health agencies were well meaning, but the effect was that the hate for social distancing measures, which is justifiable given its damage to the economy and human social interaction, was transferred over to masking, which has almost zero cost in any sense.

Honestly society would hardly be changed from 2019 if we had perpetual indoor mask mandates and no other mitigation measure but you wouldn't know it from the people frothing at the mouth with irrational hate about masks.

I do not like masks. I ascertain a lot of information from looking at people's faces. A mask is a barrier to socialization. I find people who wear masks less trustworthy because I don't see their full facial expressions.

Given how basically irrelevant this virus is to the vast majority of people who are vaccinated, I see zero need for any mask mandates.

[It’s so Joever]

COVID-19 hospitalizations rising in parts of California, a potentially ominous sign

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign/ar-AAQuNrG

Article clearly states that rates are flat in heavily vaccinated areas. More COVID scaremongering from the sensationalist msm.

I fully expect near-permanent mask and distancing requirements in the more liberal parts of the country.

It was a disaster to merge masking and social distancing in public health messaging. The public health agencies were well meaning, but the effect was that the hate for social distancing measures, which is justifiable given its damage to the economy and human social interaction, was transferred over to masking, which has almost zero cost in any sense.

Honestly society would hardly be changed from 2019 if we had perpetual indoor mask mandates and no other mitigation measure but you wouldn't know it from the people frothing at the mouth with irrational hate about masks.

I do not like masks. I ascertain a lot of information from looking at people's faces. A mask is a barrier to socialization. I find people who wear masks less trustworthy because I don't see their full facial expressions.

Given how basically irrelevant this virus is to the vast majority of people who are vaccinated, I see zero need for any mask mandates.

Mask mandates AND social distancing measures should be based on hospitalization data and should be updated monthly. That gives an incentive for the population to get vaccinated so rates are lower and to not be stupid.

And to be honest, I am okay you find people with masks less trustworthy, that’s your view of people like me who make a personal choice and that’s your right and you have your silly logic for it. Just know you don’t want to know what I think of people like you who make such judgements…because yikes.

[Calthrina950]

As I've said before, some people will wear masks in public permanently, and in some jurisdictions and contexts, mask mandates will be permanent.

[It’s so Joever]

As I've said before, some people will wear masks in public permanently, and in some jurisdictions and contexts, mask mandates will be permanent.

Mandates shouldn’t be permanent. I would argue they are unnecessary in most of the US given our current numbers. If things change, my stance would change but for now I think it should be a personal and business decision.

[DINGO Joe]

https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1457438899580456968

Also, given what is happening in Europe now, I think, that another mini-wave is coming to US soon.

Luckily those heavily hit areas are sparsely populated and relatively well vaccinated.

Well, the sparsely populated areas are not well vaccinated hence the surges of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming up the death boards.  More densely populated states with an increase in cases  have had increased deaths too (mainly in their sparsely populated unvaxxed areas) but not as a dramatic increase in deaths because populated areas are better vaxxed.

[DINGO Joe]

One of the 41 cops in San Francisco that was put on leave for not getting vaccinated has died, of course from COVID.

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco-police-officer-dies-of-covid-19-sources/2724167/

Remember, the #1 killer of cops is COVID.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

The rate of increase in cases last fall and winter peaked right about this time last year, incidentally. Right now, we're not nearly as bad as we were a year ago.

Also, I'm pretty adamant about the idea that Alabama and Louisiana have very strong herd immunity right now, but I think places like the Bay Area or parts of the New York area probably do too.

[Bootes Void]

As I've said before, some people will wear masks in public permanently, and in some jurisdictions and contexts, mask mandates will be permanent.

Permanent? I can see it stay on for a couple more months max before people just start ignoring it

[emailking]

The rate of increase in cases last fall and winter peaked right about this time last year, incidentally. Right now, we're not nearly as bad as we were a year ago.

The peak was in January.