COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[DINGO Joe]

How long has this thread had Star War references as it’s titles?

Since 1977

[Aurelius]

My sister's college just announced mandatory KN95 masking, closure of in person dining, and that social gatherings that are unmasked or more than 5 people "should not occur" (their words, I guess they know the impossibility of enforcing this). Re the latter, my sister is a rules following type, and this really sucks. She transferred from community college to four year college right around the start of the pandemic, spent her first semester there fully remote, and I was really hoping she'd finally have a normal-ish term.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

Texas mother allegedly put son in trunk of car to avoid being exposed to Covid-19.

A Texas mother has been charged with endangering a child after she allegedly placed her 13-year-old son, who had Covid-19, into her car's trunk to avoid being exposed to the virus, according to a warrant from the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Sarah Beam, 41, was charged after authorities arrived at a Houston-area Covid testing site on January 3 following a report that a health services official had found the child in trunk of Beam's car. According to the warrant, the director of health services stated she was gathering information from cars in a line for Covid testing when "she found a female driver, later identified as Sarah Beam, having her child in the trunk of her car."

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/10/us/texas-mother-son-trunk-covid-19/?iid=ob_lockedrail_topeditorial

What the hell is this?
Is she nuts?

Anyone, and I mean anyone who is worth their salt and possesses even a modicum of psychoanalytic knowledge knows that you’re inevitably going to get cases like that if you ceaselessly (quite literally every single day) subject an entire populace to fear and hysteria in a manner that’s completely, utterly disproportionate to the matter at hand. You don’t need a PhD in Psychology or have read Gustave Le Bon or George Orwell to predict how certain individuals will behave in an environment like that! Now, of course we’re supposed to react to this story the same way Gotfan, computocomp, etc. want us to react to other cases of this kind, mask mandates, school closures, businesses going bankrupt, families being torn apart, mental health disorders in general proliferating during this pandemic, etc.: classify it as "collateral damage" amidst a broader good cause and a slight incovenience/outlier in a "necessary new normal" borne out by and in fact necessitated by science.

When the same people indifferent to and supportive of this gradual erasure of empathy, critical thinking, and levelheadedness call those who dare entertain a return to a normalcy which at least allowed us to breathe normally "sociopaths," it’s not that hard to figure out where their fondness for the designation "sociopath" comes from. I sincerely don’t mean this in any polemic way when I say that many of these individuals are very, very sick — this, while of course very tragic, frankly wouldn’t be any of our business if it were confined to three or four individuals on an obscure online forum and not of a mindset that likewise pervades some of the highest positions of government. As evidenced by this thread, the former will have no qualms about displaying their abject views and (for once in their lives) feel worthy/listened to/in control as long as they feel protected by the latter, which is why the only way to deal with both is to strip enough of the latter of their power (which, one can only hope, will happen in this year's elections). I mean, I’m just a Manic Montanan who’s fine with killing all his grandmas, but trust me, I very much prefer that to any of their issues.

Okay then, all Republicans are responsible for January 6th and Charlottesville.

Why were you driving the car, Montana Man?

[Zohranism is OUR future]

And yes, wanting to end restrictions does mean being okay with grandmas dying. Even my desired Covid plans would let some people die, it’s only the Manic Montanan who thinks he can have it both ways in his fantasy world. His shallow beliefs are almost as shallow as the “election analysis” he has provided on here.

[Calthrina950]

Delaware's Governor Carney is renewing that state's indoor mask mandate. It seems as if many Democratic politicians have already written off the midterms, because these aren't the kinds of policies that are going to be helpful to them. And it's a reliance on a policy which is of but dubious value at this point. That means the number of states with mask mandates in force stands at ten, along with the District of Columbia. All of these jurisdictions are under Democratic control.

[Hammy]

closure of in person dining

At least this makes more sense than restaurant mask mandates, if nothing else.

[Coconut Decider]

Obviously masks have a cost, and they shouldn't be legally required forever. It's a pretty mild cost, and it's fine to wear it for many hours at a time. It has so far provided a much greater benefit in terms of the reduced spread of Covid and lives saved to the cost.

Is this even true? I'm skeptical that masks have anything but a marginal benefit (particularly the normal cloth masks everyone wears, and particularly with omicron).

Cloth masks basically have no protection with Omicron, and their effectiveness was marginal as best previously. However, the N95 / KN95 masks are still very effective, especially if properlly fitted.
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/n95-masks-covid-19-infection-cloth

[Frodo]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

[Calthrina950]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

Again, the pharmaceutical companies have not had completely moral motives throughout this pandemic. The coronavirus vaccine has been a major financial windfall for them, and it is to their benefit to encourage people to get vaccinated as frequently as possible.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

Delaware does not need a mask mandate given hospitalization capacity now. I made a map of places I would actually give a mask mandate. Surprisingly, even cities such as New York I wouldn’t. Some places that could use one are Louisville, Columbus, and Omaha to give examples. This is based on ICU capacity data.

Either that, or the unvaccinated and then registered Republicans should be denied treatment first in the case of triage.
If you find that wrong, shut the f**k up and put on your mask so you don’t need to think about it. Besides, you probably look better with it anyways.

[Zohranism is OUR future]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

Again, the pharmaceutical companies have not had completely moral motives throughout this pandemic. The coronavirus vaccine has been a major financial windfall for them, and it is to their benefit to encourage people to get vaccinated as frequently as possible.

Got it, Pfizer invented a new variant to push a booster. Yeah they have a financial incentive…but the reasoning is legitimate this time.

[Calthrina950]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

Again, the pharmaceutical companies have not had completely moral motives throughout this pandemic. The coronavirus vaccine has been a major financial windfall for them, and it is to their benefit to encourage people to get vaccinated as frequently as possible.

Got it, Pfizer invented a new variant to push a booster.

I didn't say that. I'm saying that the pharmaceutical companies don't have completely moral motives. To think otherwise would be an error. And I've said repeatedly that the vaccine is a life-saving elixir. I'm fully vaccinated and boosted, and I continue to agonize over how my late father refused to get the vaccine that probably would have saved his life. But I don't agree with the strategies these companies have pursued. A pharmaceutical company that was driven by a predominantly moral perspective would be seeking to ramp up production of vaccines for those in developing countries. People throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America would crawl over broken glass to get vaccinated.

[Migrant Crime]

Fourth times the charm!  And if you’re not comfortable taking 4 shots in a year, for a vaccine that doesnt even stop transmission, thats fine.  You won’t be forced to take it - you’ll just not be able to make a living, workout, or eat in a restaurant/bar.  And if all goes well, you’ll be able to wear a mask everywhere you go and show your vax card until vaccine #5 is approved.

[Mr. Morden]

How long has this thread had Star War references as it’s titles?

Since 1977

It turns out that you're right, given the timestamp on this post:

Due to the popularity of that "Star Wars" movie, I've decided to call this new thread "COVID-19 Wars".  To be honest, I'm not sure why we're interested in the so-called "COVID-19" here in the year 1977, but people asked for this thread, so here it is.

[Mr. Illini]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

I’ll take vaccines recommended by the CDC/FDA and my doctor, but I have a hard time believing that this one will be.

People who took the original vaccine series (and are boosted if applicable) continue to be well-protected against severe outcomes of COVID, including omicron. I haven’t seen anything that suggests otherwise.

[compucomp]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

Again, the pharmaceutical companies have not had completely moral motives throughout this pandemic. The coronavirus vaccine has been a major financial windfall for them, and it is to their benefit to encourage people to get vaccinated as frequently as possible.

I agree with you on this. I've had 3 shots but I'm not unquestioningly trusting announcements by pharmaceutical companies that have an obvious effect on their earnings and thus their stock price. Omicron was barely announced and we were already hearing from Moderna and Pfizer that 2 shots were not enough but 3 shots would be good. Quickly thereafter we heard that the only vaccines that do anything against Omicron are Moderna and Pfizer. Now 3 shots are not good enough but 4 will be good, or you can buy an upgrade and get their new vaccine designed for Omicron. All of this should be taken with a grain of salt. Any experimental results from them should be publicly released for full transparency and vetted by independent scientists or government agencies.

[Hammy]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

I’ll take vaccines recommended by the CDC/FDA and my doctor, but I have a hard time believing that this one will be.

People who took the original vaccine series (and are boosted if applicable) continue to be well-protected against severe outcomes of COVID, including omicron. I haven’t seen anything that suggests otherwise.

I'll add that, from what I recall, they actually cautioned against having variant-specific vaccines, because there could then be another mutation that renders that one completely ineffective.

[Donerail]

Sonoma County has banned "large gatherings" (defined as anything >50 people) and has issued what they call a "voluntary stay at home order," recommending residents to shelter in place and avoid contact with others for at least the next 30 days. But "there are no government policies restricting any behavior."

[Pericles]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

The vaccines were only just invented and it's understandable that they aren't perfect. The scientific progress has been amazing and if this had happened any earlier, the world would have had to get through the pandemic without vaccines for at least several years. As time goes on, the protection we have is going to keep on increasing, even if more variants are some more bumps in the road.

[Can't Bear]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

Again, the pharmaceutical companies have not had completely moral motives throughout this pandemic. The coronavirus vaccine has been a major financial windfall for them, and it is to their benefit to encourage people to get vaccinated as frequently as possible.

I agree with you on this. I've had 3 shots but I'm not unquestioningly trusting announcements by pharmaceutical companies that have an obvious effect on their earnings and thus their stock price. Omicron was barely announced and we were already hearing from Moderna and Pfizer that 2 shots were not enough but 3 shots would be good. Quickly thereafter we heard that the only vaccines that do anything against Omicron are Moderna and Pfizer. Now 3 shots are not good enough but 4 will be good, or you can buy an upgrade and get their new vaccine designed for Omicron. All of this should be taken with a grain of salt. Any experimental results from them should be publicly released for full transparency and vetted by independent scientists or government agencies.

Yes, but masks are like 100 times less effective than 3rd and 4th doses, but you still think everyone has to wear them all the time

[Calthrina950]

It is ridiculous we are being asked to take these vaccines every six months or so when once a year should suffice:

Pfizer: Vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March

The vaccines were only just invented and it's understandable that they aren't perfect. The scientific progress has been amazing and if this had happened any earlier, the world would have had to get through the pandemic without vaccines for at least several years. As time goes on, the protection we have is going to keep on increasing, even if more variants are some more bumps in the road.

Yes, but you cannot seriously believe that the pharmaceutical companies haven't been driven by at least some kind of profit motive throughout all of this.

[emailking]

If you don't want a booster (3rd, 4th, 10th, whatever) then don't take it.

A lot of people keep saying they're going to be required, but that hasn't happened. They're good for people who want them.

[compucomp]

Sonoma County has banned "large gatherings" (defined as anything >50 people) and has issued what they call a "voluntary stay at home order," recommending residents to shelter in place and avoid contact with others for at least the next 30 days. But "there are no government policies restricting any behavior."

I didn't exactly say that the lack of government action was a positive thing, and I said what I said out of cynicism towards the moral bankruptcy of this country on COVID. I suppose I spend too much time on this forum, and thus it's easy to come to the conclusion that everyone thinks like the anti-restriction mob here. I'm very glad to see there are at least some virtuous people in this country, enough to pressure a local government to institute a common-sense low effort NPI to try to slow down the spread, when Omicron has clearly proven to be much more severe than the common cold and hospitalizations in the US are now at a record high.

[Calthrina950]

Sonoma County has banned "large gatherings" (defined as anything >50 people) and has issued what they call a "voluntary stay at home order," recommending residents to shelter in place and avoid contact with others for at least the next 30 days. But "there are no government policies restricting any behavior."

I didn't exactly say that the lack of government action was a positive thing, and I said what I said out of cynicism towards the moral bankruptcy of this country on COVID. I suppose I spend too much time on this forum, and thus it's easy to come to the conclusion that everyone thinks like the anti-restriction mob here. I'm very glad to see there are at least some virtuous people in this country, enough to pressure a local government to institute a common-sense low effort NPI to try to slow down the spread, when Omicron has clearly proven to be much more severe than the common cold and hospitalizations in the US are now at a record high.

Are you saying that we should return to the lockdowns of March 2020?

[compucomp]

Sonoma County has banned "large gatherings" (defined as anything >50 people) and has issued what they call a "voluntary stay at home order," recommending residents to shelter in place and avoid contact with others for at least the next 30 days. But "there are no government policies restricting any behavior."

I didn't exactly say that the lack of government action was a positive thing, and I said what I said out of cynicism towards the moral bankruptcy of this country on COVID. I suppose I spend too much time on this forum, and thus it's easy to come to the conclusion that everyone thinks like the anti-restriction mob here. I'm very glad to see there are at least some virtuous people in this country, enough to pressure a local government to institute a common-sense low effort NPI to try to slow down the spread, when Omicron has clearly proven to be much more severe than the common cold and hospitalizations in the US are now at a record high.

Are you saying that we should return to the lockdowns of March 2020?

If money grew on trees, absolutely. In the real world, we can't afford to subsidize all the businesses that would be shut down and support the unemployment caused so something like the Sonoma county policy is probably the most that can be done, and even that may be too much and result in the county (and thus the taxpayers of the county) paying to support businesses.

Honestly maybe the most practical NPI is to give $50-100 billion to the CDC and NIH, have them blanket the airwaves nationwide with a PSA campaign informing people of the dangers of COVID and discouraging gathering in large groups etc, and let market forces take care of the rest.