COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[GregTheGreat657]

The NY mask mandate was extended to Feb. 1
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-covid-hochul-extends-mask-mandate-february-1-20211231-arkjjt3lcjhq3hnpo7uurebvpi-story.html

Not surprising. I suspect Hochul is going to extend it every month for the next several months. Again, it is notable that all nine states (and D.C.) that still have a mask mandate at this point are under Democratic control. That's certainly a clear signal of how polarized the issue is now.

There's a reason for my new display name

NY Republicans are just as corrupt as Dems. The state needs outside administration for awhile.

At least they wouldn't restrict my freedoms, to save a group of people who largely do not want the help

[GeorgiaModerate]

Good news from South Africa:

https://twitter.com/ShabirMadh/status/1478814055590727685

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Good news from South Africa:

https://twitter.com/ShabirMadh/status/1478814055590727685

So basically it's less than a cold, and we're acting like it's the plague.

[Hammy]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-variant-may-end-up-saving-lives-infection-antibodies-spread-sick-covid-19-coronavirus-hospitalization-death-vaccine-11641153969

Data from South Africa continues to show Omicron is very mild and represents a possible lurch towards the final back-end phase of the pandemic.

So basically it's less than a cold, and we're acting like it's the plague.

This is no less an exaggeration than those comparing it to the plague and things like this help wrongly cast doubt on actual science showing it's milder. Omicron variant is about 0.2%--about double the flu, albeit significantly milder than previous variants. Were this "less than a cold" it would mean we'd see ~300k cold deaths per year given how prevalent it is.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

[Migrant Crime]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

He's not going anywhere.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Well, it was day 1 of classes at the University of Michigan yesterday, and our quarantine housing is already 100% full. Literally hundreds of additional students have also tested positive but have no choice but to remain in their dorms (or other communal living spaces) because there’s no place for them to go.

[Hammy]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

This is a weird obsession you and others have, as if Fauci is literally the only health expert on the planet who would put out the present guidance. Suppose you remove him, somebody else in his place will likely be putting out the exact same guidelines.

[soundchaser]

https://twitter.com/shailjapatel/status/1475605944251858949?s=20

I know the last few years have left us traumatized in a lot of ways, but, uh.

Acknowledging global vaccine inequality and politicization of the pandemic exist is one thing, but saying “everyone’s going to get it” is really just epidemiology.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

“Everyone is gonna get it!”

North Sentinelese: “Hold my spear.”

[riceowl]

I went to New Orleans last weekend. I'm boosted. I fully expected to get it when I went. And I have a PCR scheduled this afternoon.

[Doomer]

I went to New Orleans last weekend. I'm boosted. I fully expected to get it when I went. And I have a PCR scheduled this afternoon.

I have a test scheduled today too.  I've had a sore throat that I can't shake, a cough, and slight headache.  Some fatigue.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

This is a weird obsession you and others have, as if Fauci is literally the only health expert on the planet who would put out the present guidance. Suppose you remove him, somebody else in his place will likely be putting out the exact same guidelines.

You’re right. We need to get rid of all of the self-aggrandizing technocrats who have usurped our representative form of government.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

I went to NYC in the midst of the omicron surge there. I travelled on the Subway extensively and walked through a ton of neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
I have tested negative since.
There is hardly a chance I didn’t have contact with at least one positive person.

If you don’t want to catch it, wear a mask, wash your hands, and don’t eat indoors (unless in your hotel room or an empty restaurant) really common f**king sense. Yes omicron is more transmissible, but it still is bound by basic virology.

(Oh and I use and reuse KF-94s. As long as it doesn’t get wet and there isn’t visible damage, I reuse. If you reuse you save a lot of money)


Given omicron’s mildness, I will eventually personally be a bit more lax in the future. But all I am saying is that this isn’t some doomsday scenario.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

This is a weird obsession you and others have, as if Fauci is literally the only health expert on the planet who would put out the present guidance. Suppose you remove him, somebody else in his place will likely be putting out the exact same guidelines.

You’re right. We need to get rid of all of the self-aggrandizing technocrats who have usurped our representative form of government.

This sounds like something I would read from a 14 year old on 4chan with an extremely limited understanding of government administration. Yes there are some parts that probably can be cut, but “all the technocrats” is such a broad term. You really are about as competent as Trump.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

This is a weird obsession you and others have, as if Fauci is literally the only health expert on the planet who would put out the present guidance. Suppose you remove him, somebody else in his place will likely be putting out the exact same guidelines.

You’re right. We need to get rid of all of the self-aggrandizing technocrats who have usurped our representative form of government.

This sounds like something I would read from a 14 year old on 4chan with an extremely limited understanding of government administration. Yes there are some parts that probably can be cut, but “all the technocrats” is such a broad term. You really are about as competent as Trump.

lol ok

[Hammy]

Good. Time to impeach President Fauci and remove him from office.

This is a weird obsession you and others have, as if Fauci is literally the only health expert on the planet who would put out the present guidance. Suppose you remove him, somebody else in his place will likely be putting out the exact same guidelines.

You’re right. We need to get rid of all of the self-aggrandizing technocrats who have usurped our representative form of government.

This sounds like something I would read from a 14 year old on 4chan with an extremely limited understanding of government administration. Yes there are some parts that probably can be cut, but “all the technocrats” is such a broad term. You really are about as competent as Trump.

lol ok

Just further proving Forumlurker's point the more you reply.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1479218302954221570

[Meclazine for Israel]

My nephew has Omicron, exposed on Monday in Hobart.

One of his girlfriends' friends in Melbourne was freaking out about COVID transmission rates in Melbourne, so she flew to Hobart to stay in his house in the perceived safety of Tasmania.

But all she did was bring Omicron and infect every one in their house.

He was exposed Monday and was sick as a dog Thursday morning.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-07/covid-omicron-symptoms-incubation-period-infectious/100739260

It now appears Omicron is the most contagious communicable disease affecting humanity.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

https://twitter.com/shailjapatel/status/1475605944251858949?s=20

I know the last few years have left us traumatized in a lot of ways, but, uh.

Acknowledging global vaccine inequality and politicization of the pandemic exist is one thing, but saying “everyone’s going to get it” is really just epidemiology.

This is the woman who referred to Israeli babies as "pre-combatants" and legitimate targets, in case anyone wonders how much she actually values human life.

[emailking]

750 today. But hopefully it's slowing at this point. Deaths are going up again too and not trivial at ~2K.

[compucomp]

Here's some pandemic news of practical importance, Biden's 500M at home tests may be ready for shipment starting mid-January. I know I will be grabbing as many as I can.

The White House is finalizing details with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver 500 million coronavirus test kits to households across the country, according to four people familiar with the plans, kick-starting a key part of President Biden’s response to the raging omicron variant.

The administration will launch a website allowing individuals to request the rapid tests, the people said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private planning sessions. Officials aim to begin shipping the kits by mid-January.

Test manufacturers and distributors seeking to provide a share of the 500 million tests have submitted proposals to the government, and the Biden administration on Thursday evening awarded its first contract toward the purchase, said a person with knowledge of the testing plan. A formal announcement on the effort could come as soon as next week.

[Blue3]

Not only are the local hospital and nursing home now asking for COVID-positive employees to come in, they're even saying it for employees who HAVE SYMPTOMS. This is in local hospital and nursing home.

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/covid-positive-health-care-workers-called-into-work-in-rhode-island/



And... surprise, surprise:

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/outbreak-at-eleanor-slater-hospital-after-covid-positive-staff-called-into-work?

There’s now a huge outbreak among patients at the hospital after COVID positive employees came in.

[Meclazine for Israel]

NSW has banned singing and dancing in light of a record Omicron outbreak:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-07/nsw-premier-dominic-perrottet-reinstates-covid-restrictions/100743852

WA recorded 1 Omicron case yesterday. Despite this, 2 million people in Perth are still on edge and mask mandate ends today.

[Can't Bear]

https://twitter.com/WVGovernor/status/1479225768899133442