COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[GregTheGreat657]

Thoughts on NY's mask mandate being ruled unconstitutional?

We spent the 2010s fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline.

But the 2020s have been spent turning schools into prisons.

Masks in schools must go, and there must be accountability for those who enforced it.

I agree, but probably not for another 2 or 3 months, as a lot of children are still at risk for COVID. In 2 or 3 months, more children should be vaccinated, so school mask mandates should ideally end then.

What about high schools? HS students have been eligible for vaccination since last May

[Meclazine for Israel]

New variant deserves a new thread.

The "Son of Omicron" has arrived in Denmark and can only be detected by lab analysis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10445209/Expert-stuns-Karl-Stefanovic-warns-contagious-Covid-variant-BA-2.html

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter was on morning TV saying it's more contagious than Omicron.

[Horus]

New variant deserves a new thread.

The "Son of Omicron" has arrived in Denmark and can only be detected by lab analysis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10445209/Expert-stuns-Karl-Stefanovic-warns-contagious-Covid-variant-BA-2.html

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter was on morning TV saying it's more contagious than Omicron.

Looks like masks are about to be even more useless than they already are.

[Calthrina950]

New variant deserves a new thread.

The "Son of Omicron" has arrived in Denmark and can only be detected by lab analysis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10445209/Expert-stuns-Karl-Stefanovic-warns-contagious-Covid-variant-BA-2.html

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter was on morning TV saying it's more contagious than Omicron.

Looks like masks are about to be even more useless than they already are.

But we should expect for public health officials to reiterate the importance of wearing them, for Democratic jurisdictions to reinforce or perhaps extend their mask mandates, and for N95 mask mandates to become more commonplace. Such mandates have already been introduced on many college campuses, and several school districts have tightened their masking requirements as well.

[compucomp]

New variant deserves a new thread.

The "Son of Omicron" has arrived in Denmark and can only be detected by lab analysis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10445209/Expert-stuns-Karl-Stefanovic-warns-contagious-Covid-variant-BA-2.html

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter was on morning TV saying it's more contagious than Omicron.

Looks like masks are about to be even more useless than they already are.

What an illogical comment, the virus got stronger so we weaken our defenses? If the weather is 15 degrees colder tomorrow than it is today, will you put on an extra layer of clothes or strip naked in the subfreezing weather instead?

[Horus]

New variant deserves a new thread.

The "Son of Omicron" has arrived in Denmark and can only be detected by lab analysis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10445209/Expert-stuns-Karl-Stefanovic-warns-contagious-Covid-variant-BA-2.html

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter was on morning TV saying it's more contagious than Omicron.

Looks like masks are about to be even more useless than they already are.

What an illogical comment, the virus got stronger so we weaken our defenses? If the weather is 10 degrees colder tomorrow than it is today, will you put on an extra layer of clothes or strip naked in the subfreezing weather instead?

More transmissible doesn't mean stronger. Omicron is very mild, especially for the vaccinated. I'd bet "Son of Omicron" is even weaker.

[Hammy]

An island of sanity in the ocean of hysteria. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/01/25/omicron-new-variant-ba-2-covid/9214980002/

The reality, Lemieux said, is that while BA.2 is likely to keep spreading at least for a few weeks in places around the world, "we have an ability to combat the virus that is orders of magnitudes different from where we were two years ago."

"Yes, we have some hard decisions. We have some evidence to collect. We can't predict the future," said Lemieux, noting that vaccines and drugs like monoclonal antibodies and antivirals have reduced the risk tenfold of becoming severely ill or dying from COVID-19.  "But I think we are in a tremendously optimistic place, despite all the transmission, despite all the challenges ahead."

[Can't Bear]

Democrat has successfully fearmongered a lot of poor people (esp. its own base) to keep their kids from the school, because Covid is "dangerous" for the kids.


Here is the data from UK, who (as the most of Western World) contrary to disgusting racist Democrats tried to keep schools open throughout the pandemic.

https://www.ft.com/content/28be9d3f-0b12-4c33-bda9-fbff375c0b7e

Countries with high exposure to the Omicron variant are recording record numbers of child coronavirus hospitalisations, adding to the pressures on healthcare systems, although health experts have stressed that the vast majority of cases were mild.

Data from Europe and the US show more child admissions in recent days than at any time during the pandemic, but severe cases are rare in the youngest age groups and Omicron infections generally looked similar to other common respiratory illnesses.

England is on course for 2,000 to 3,000 paediatric Covid-19 admissions in January, comparable with typical winter admissions for pneumonia and well short of the usual winter peak of 12,500 monthly admissions for bronchiolitis.

Even without vaccines, a typical wave of bronchiolitis dwarfs Covid-19 and even admissions for pneumonia usually are larger (and more severe).

This was more or less known from ~summer 2020. Democrats knew it, but politicized it to win some sits or something.

[Ferguson97]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

what are you talking about

I've gone to concerts, bars, football games, and restaurants all without having to wear a mask in several months. And I live in one of the so-called "nanny states". What exactly more are you looking for?

[Roll Roons]

We need normalcy now!

We have had normalcy for several months!

what are you talking about

I've gone to concerts, bars, football games, and restaurants all without having to wear a mask in several months. And I live in one of the so-called "nanny states". What exactly more are you looking for?

Are you in college?

[Raccoon]

Okay, I do not know how effective vaccine mandates would be.

The only places in Peru that asked me for my vaccine proof were the long range buses and ... a single ice cream shop in Trujillo, Peru.

Granted, I tend to do prefer street vendors but after all the fanfare that Peru requires proof of vaccination.. its rarely enforced in practice.

Asking private businesses to enforce a vaccine mandate is dumb and unfairly onerous on private citizens.  If the state implements a vaccine mandate (which I think they should), they should also be the ones to enforce it.

Exactly.

Today in Miraflores and San Isdrio,  I was asked for my vaccine proof everywhere I went! Even the beach. Even by private businesses. That part of peru is covid insane.

[Oakvale]

Democrat has successfully fearmongered a lot of poor people (esp. its own base) to keep their kids from the school, because Covid is "dangerous" for the kids.


Here is the data from UK, who (as the most of Western World) contrary to disgusting racist Democrats tried to keep schools open throughout the pandemic.

https://www.ft.com/content/28be9d3f-0b12-4c33-bda9-fbff375c0b7e

Countries with high exposure to the Omicron variant are recording record numbers of child coronavirus hospitalisations, adding to the pressures on healthcare systems, although health experts have stressed that the vast majority of cases were mild.

Data from Europe and the US show more child admissions in recent days than at any time during the pandemic, but severe cases are rare in the youngest age groups and Omicron infections generally looked similar to other common respiratory illnesses.

England is on course for 2,000 to 3,000 paediatric Covid-19 admissions in January, comparable with typical winter admissions for pneumonia and well short of the usual winter peak of 12,500 monthly admissions for bronchiolitis.

Even without vaccines, a typical wave of bronchiolitis dwarfs Covid-19 and even admissions for pneumonia usually are larger (and more severe).

This was more or less known from ~summer 2020. Democrats knew it, but politicized it to win some sits or something.

Obviously public health institutions have sustained the most reputational damage throughout this period but the teachers' unions - who, granted, have never exactly covered themselves in glory - can't be far behind. Utterly vile, rotten organisations. Raze them to the ground.

[JGibson]

Thoughts on NY's mask mandate being ruled unconstitutional?

We spent the 2010s fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline.

But the 2020s have been spent turning schools into prisons.

Masks in schools must go, and there must be accountability for those who enforced it.

I agree, but probably not for another 2 or 3 months, as a lot of children are still at risk for COVID. In 2 or 3 months, more children should be vaccinated, so school mask mandates should ideally end then.

What about high schools? HS students have been eligible for vaccination since last May

High schoolers have been eligible for the COVID vaccine since May of last year; however, in many states, parental consent is required if you're under 18 in many states. Thus, we have scenarios where the student wants to be vaccinated, but is blocked from doing so by their parent(s) for whatever reason (especially ones motivated by QAnon propaganda).

[GregTheGreat657]

Thoughts on NY's mask mandate being ruled unconstitutional?

We spent the 2010s fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline.

But the 2020s have been spent turning schools into prisons.

Masks in schools must go, and there must be accountability for those who enforced it.

I agree, but probably not for another 2 or 3 months, as a lot of children are still at risk for COVID. In 2 or 3 months, more children should be vaccinated, so school mask mandates should ideally end then.

What about high schools? HS students have been eligible for vaccination since last May

High schoolers have been eligible for the COVID vaccine since May of last year; however, in many states, parental consent is required if you're under 18 in many states. Thus, we have scenarios where the student wants to be vaccinated, but is blocked from doing so by their parent(s) for whatever reason (especially ones motivated by QAnon propaganda).

Just because some kids have moronic parents doesn't mean their peers should be forced to wear a mask

[MATTROSE94]

Thoughts on NY's mask mandate being ruled unconstitutional?

We spent the 2010s fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline.

But the 2020s have been spent turning schools into prisons.

Masks in schools must go, and there must be accountability for those who enforced it.

I agree, but probably not for another 2 or 3 months, as a lot of children are still at risk for COVID. In 2 or 3 months, more children should be vaccinated, so school mask mandates should ideally end then.

What about high schools? HS students have been eligible for vaccination since last May

The mask mandates in high schools should be dropped or left up to the discretion of school districts.

[Meclazine for Israel]

3rd (booster) shot today.

Received Moderna after the first two Pfizer jabs.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

The Democrats have completely sold out. When I first registered to vote in 1991, the Democrats never, ever, ever would have been the ones to shut down the country for 2 years.

In much of the world, the parties really didn't flip like this. Mexico, Greece, Nicaragua, and Sweden seem to be some of the best examples of where right-wing parties continued to be more authoritarian, and more left-wing parties weren't as bad.

[Oakvale]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

The Democrats have completely sold out. When I first registered to vote in 1991, the Democrats never, ever, ever would have been the ones to shut down the country for 2 years.

In much of the world, the parties really didn't flip like this. Mexico, Greece, Nicaragua, and Sweden seem to be some of the best examples of where right-wing parties continued to be more authoritarian, and more left-wing parties weren't as bad.

For some reason the left has gone fully insane during covid. Just speaking from an Irish perspective our far left parties have been advocating deranged Zero Covid perma-lockdowns for the last two years and accusing anyone who dissents of being a pawn of global capitalism for thinking minimum wage workers should be able to earn a living.

It's very sad to see the Democrats going the same way. I think it must be some kind of condition you get when you spend too much time on Twitter and talk yourself into hysteria.

[Hammy]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

[Banana Republican]

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

Unironically good analysis. It is a difficult situation with no easy choices and no easy answers. Democrats attempt at least somewhat to think through those choices and figure out which is the best (or rather, least bad) policy, and come to varying conclusions within some range. Republicans don't think at all though, they just look at the Democrats and do the opposite of whatever most of the Democrats seem to be doing.

[ProudModerate2]

Video: Man caught on camera berating kids over wearing masks.

Police have opened an investigation after a concerned parent captured a man wearing a "your mask makes you look stupid," shirt yelling children who were wearing masks.

Click here to watch ... https://us.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/01/26/man-yells-at-children-mask-wearing-affil-pkg-vpx.kcal-kcbs/video/playlists/top-news-videos/

This idiot has been on the news for the last several days.
He is such a coward, he seems to be going around saying these things to just young teenagers and doesn't have the nuts to target adults.
The crackpot reminds me of one or two Altas users with pathetic excuses, "demeanings," and/or lies about masks and mask-wearing.

[Can't Bear]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

This, but the opposite. It was Dems who did the opposite to whatever Trump say.

Close border.
Reopen.
Keep school open.
Stop masks jerking.

It went so ridiculous that "scientists" killed the manmade Covid theory because they were afraid to be associated with Orange Man Baaad (NBC). If even unelected, totally unknown to public "scientists" felt such pressure, imagine what wimpy Dems did terrified by their TDS base and Fake News Media?

Answer: the worst. These uhm *censored* bad people have closed schools for those who needed them most. What a.. uhm... bad people.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

This, but the opposite. It was Dems who did the opposite to whatever Trump say.

Close border.
Reopen.
Keep school open.
Stop masks jerking.

It went so ridiculous that "scientists" killed the manmade Covid theory because they were afraid to be associated with Orange Man Baaad (NBC). If even unelected, totally unknown to public "scientists" felt such pressure, imagine what wimpy Dems did terrified by their TDS base and Fake News Media?

Answer: the worst. These uhm *censored* bad people have closed schools for those who needed them most. What a.. uhm... bad people.

True, the way they covered up any serious discussion of the Wuhan Institute of Virology because they that'd help Trump makes them a bunch of CCP hacks.

[Hammy]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

This, but the opposite. It was Dems who did the opposite to whatever Trump say.

Close border.
Reopen.
Keep school open.
Stop masks jerking.

Yes, let's just casually ignore the fact that Dems were actually in full support of Trump for the few weeks it looked like he might actually put some mitigation measures in place, or the fact that Republicans long ago declared themselves the Party of No, having literally zero policy beyond "do what the Dems aren't doing."

And his border policy was rightfully criticized because at no point did he advocate closing the border. First he wanted to keep Muslims out, then once covid was already spreading to Europe, his idea was to stop travel only from China while allowing it into the country from Italy.

[Can't Bear]

Why does it seem like we have to rely on right-wing Republicans to save us from draconian COVID measures?

Because they're going to do literally the opposite of whatever the Dems are doing, purely for the sake of it. If Democrats started opening back up and saying the pandemic is over, wait a few months and you'd start seeing Republicans attacking that and wanting restrictions.

This, but the opposite. It was Dems who did the opposite to whatever Trump say.

Close border.
Reopen.
Keep school open.
Stop masks jerking.

Yes, let's just casually ignore the fact that Dems were actually in full support of Trump for the few weeks it looked like he might actually put some mitigation measures in place, or the fact that Republicans long ago declared themselves the Party of No, having literally zero policy beyond "do what the Dems aren't doing."

And his border policy was rightfully criticized because at no point did he advocate closing the border. First he wanted to keep Muslims out, then once covid was already spreading to Europe, his idea was to stop travel only from China while allowing it into the country from Italy.

Most countries did so, because nobody would assume, it was that transmittable. And Dems were even against it. Saying to people go hug themselves.

About mitigation, so Red states had generally lower deaths rates until the vaccines come, so I don't know why you keep pretending, that Dems followed some super-duper smart politics. They did the opposite to Red states and still failed. Now vaccination is another thing. Here Red states generally failed.