COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Calthrina950]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

What? We have not returned to the conditions of 2019. The pandemic still dominates the headlines, and many of the restrictions remain in force.

[beesley]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

[compucomp]

We need normalcy now!

That won't happen until COVID ceases to be a threat. Until that happens, there is a clear majority that demands the government do something about it and a smaller but still substantial proportion of the population (I estimate 30%) that will change their behavior. Accordingly Biden is doing something about it, encouraging mask wearing and vaccine uptake, and shipping out vast quantities of test kits and N95 masks. Yes Omicron is milder than Delta but it is so contagious it is a big problem anyway, hospitalizations are at a record and deaths have gone up, both at levels 10x or more than what is expected of seasonal flu.

In a recent hearing with the CDC and FDA multiple Republican senators criticized the administration's response to Omicron as incompetent. Now it's not necessary for the opposition party to be logically sound in its criticism of the incumbent but the logical conclusion of this criticism is the exact opposite of the position you're proposing, that we pretend that COVID is not a threat and that it's 2019 again. You're clearly denying reality if you believe that, and honestly this forum is fiercely in denial of reality when it howls with indignation at Biden sending out masks and test kits, which did exactly zero economic harm and impeded no freedoms.

I want to see polls of mask mandates and such add a question asking if respondents agree that COVID is not a threat and that all containment should be abandoned. I think this will poll around 20-25% support and bust this forum's bubble on this issue.

[Calthrina950]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

[beesley]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Yes - I'm pleased that our Prime Minister has announced as such (at present, he may not be PM when they end).

[Calthrina950]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Yes - I'm pleased that our Prime Minister has announced as such (at present, he may not be PM when they end).

Didn't Johnson get in trouble for attending a Christmas party in violation of his own regulations? And isn't he facing a challenge from members of his own party? I'm not entirely sure with what's going on, though I know that Johnson's approvals have declined.

[Doomer]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Do you mean mandates from government or from private businesses?

I can get behind government no longer mandating them, but private businesses must be allowed to require masks if they so choose.

[Calthrina950]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Do you mean mandates from government or from private businesses?

I can get behind government no longer mandating them, but private businesses must be allowed to require masks if they so choose.

Government mandates. Private businesses can impose their own mandates, but I would be hopeful that they would not do so. There still won't be normalcy if employees of all stripes are still masked on the job.

[beesley]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Yes - I'm pleased that our Prime Minister has announced as such (at present, he may not be PM when they end).

Didn't Johnson get in trouble for attending a Christmas party in violation of his own regulations? And isn't he facing a challenge from members of his own party? I'm not entirely sure with what's going on, though I know that Johnson's approvals have declined.

Yes and yes. What makes his position that bit more untenable is that he mislead Parliament and the public about it too.

[roxas11]

I just ordered the free covid test and I got to be honest, I'm actually shocked at how easy it was to use the website

I thought it was going to be complicated, but it ended not being like that at all and in less than a minute I had ordered the test

I guess Biden and Dems really did learn from the Obamacare website debacle

[compucomp]

I just ordered the free covid test and I got to be honest, I'm actually shocked at how easy it was to use the website

I thought it was going to be complicated, but it ended not being like that at all and in less than a minute I had ordered the test

I guess Biden and Dems really did learn from the Obamacare website debacle

The ordering was the easy part IMO. The real challenge for the government is if they can actually get the test kits sent to us, both in terms of securing the supply and then getting the USPS to deliver them.

[Oakvale]

https://twitter.com/leeofthemail/status/1484260847782346752

Sending solidarity to my American friends in blue states as Ireland and its peoples have won freedom from the novel coronavirus. It's over.

[Chief Justice PiT]

A good benchmark of a return to normalcy will be the end of isolation for positive tests, which I hope to see implemented soon.

Another benchmark would be the abolition of mask mandates.

Do you mean mandates from government or from private businesses?

I can get behind government no longer mandating them, but private businesses must be allowed to require masks if they so choose.

Government mandates. Private businesses can impose their own mandates, but I would be hopeful that they would not do so. There still won't be normalcy if employees of all stripes are still masked on the job.

     I think masking will be a typical aspect of life in blue states regardless, as people are driven by fear of COVID. Nevertheless, it would be great to simply not have to contend with restrictions in government offices. I have had business with the SSA as of late, and their COVID regulations has made it incredibly hard to do what I need to do because they were tailored with little consideration for the needs of the people. You need to call to make an appointment by phone, but the line is understaffed and usually drops you before you ever get to talk to someone.

https://twitter.com/leeofthemail/status/1484260847782346752

Sending solidarity to my American friends in blue states as Ireland and its peoples have won freedom from the novel coronavirus. It's over.

     Congratulations! Your solidarity with us is appreciated.

[KaiserDave]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

What is normalcy to you?

[GregTheGreat657]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

If we have achieved normalcy, why are so many places still mandating masks?

[Calthrina950]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

If we have achieved normalcy, why are so many places still mandating masks?

Perhaps he's referring to the "new normal", which many people are now pushing for us to accept, and includes permanent or rolling mask mandates.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

We need to get the deaths per day down to under 200 before we can call it normalcy.

[Matty]

I LOVE this

https://mobile.twitter.com/critica18495985/status/1483889174734417922

[compucomp]

This forum probably thinks this was a righteous act of civil disobedience.

American Airlines flight bound for London turns around mid-flight over mask rule compliance

An American Airlines passenger plane bound for London turned around mid-flight due to a mask-related disruption on Wednesday.

"American Airlines flight 38 with service from Miami (MIA) to London (LHR) returned to MIA due to a disruptive customer refusing to comply with the federal mask requirement," American Airlines said in a statement.

Local law enforcement met the flight at Miami International Airport, the airline said.
The Miami-Dade Police Department told CNN it was called by the airline regarding a female passenger who refused to wear a mask.

"Once the plane made it to the gate, the passenger was escorted off the plane by MDPD officers without incident. The passenger was then dealt with administratively by American Airlines staff," said Detective A. Colome from the Miami-Dade Police Department.

[GregTheGreat657]

What are the odds NY drops its indoor mask mandate on Feb. 1?

[You are responsible]

This forum probably thinks this was a righteous act of civil disobedience.

American Airlines flight bound for London turns around mid-flight over mask rule compliance

An American Airlines passenger plane bound for London turned around mid-flight due to a mask-related disruption on Wednesday.

"American Airlines flight 38 with service from Miami (MIA) to London (LHR) returned to MIA due to a disruptive customer refusing to comply with the federal mask requirement," American Airlines said in a statement.

Local law enforcement met the flight at Miami International Airport, the airline said.
The Miami-Dade Police Department told CNN it was called by the airline regarding a female passenger who refused to wear a mask.

"Once the plane made it to the gate, the passenger was escorted off the plane by MDPD officers without incident. The passenger was then dealt with administratively by American Airlines staff," said Detective A. Colome from the Miami-Dade Police Department.

I don't get people like that. Even when you're opposed to wearing masks, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that you will be eventually escorted off the plane if you're refusing to do so. So people like that are deliberately missing their flights, which they had already paid for, just to make a point? Too much money in the account, I guess.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

What are the odds NY drops its indoor mask mandate on Feb. 1?

I'm more worried about which state will be the first to enact an outdoor mandate. I think a few states had one last winter.

[GregTheGreat657]

What are the odds NY drops its indoor mask mandate on Feb. 1?

I'm more worried about which state will be the first to enact an outdoor mandate. I think a few states had one last winter.

Oregon already had one back in the fall, but if another state does it, my money would be on California

[Bandit3 the Worker]

What are the odds NY drops its indoor mask mandate on Feb. 1?

I'm more worried about which state will be the first to enact an outdoor mandate. I think a few states had one last winter.

Oregon already had one back in the fall, but if another state does it, my money would be on California

My guess is New Mexico.

[Roll Roons]

What are the odds NY drops its indoor mask mandate on Feb. 1?

I'm more worried about which state will be the first to enact an outdoor mandate. I think a few states had one last winter.

I would have said NY or DC, but Omicron has already peaked in both.