COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[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.

The peak was in January.

The peak of the actual numbers was in January, but the peak of the rate it was increasing was in November.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

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

Just a few weeks ago, I went on a road trip that included Illinois and New Mexico, which still have mask mandates. At restaurants I used in southern Illinois, everyone did indeed ignore it. At some businesses in New Mexico, most people ignored it too. The big exception though was a supermarket in Los Alamos, which was a disaster.

But there are some places even in my area where people still haven't gotten it through their thick skulls that it's not March 2020 anymore. I'm thinking of schools and healthcare businesses mostly.

[Pericles]

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.

Some 'contexts' makes sense, it should be a norm at least for a long time for people to mask up in hospitals, nursing homes, places like that. I'd accept that in certain settings where it wouldn't be that inconvenient but there is a high transmission risk, eg public transport or even just some flights, masking is also a good idea. People should be a bit more careful than they were in 2019, not just against Covid but against infectious diseases generally, eg it should be encouraged more to stay home when you're sick.

[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.

The peak of the actual numbers was in January, but the peak of the rate it was increasing was in November.

Ok but then that implies the worst is yet to come, not that we're already past it.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

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.

Yes, but the article is from sensationalist LA Times, not MSM (they only re-published it). Credit where credit is due.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-09/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign

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.

The peak of the actual numbers was in January, but the peak of the rate it was increasing was in November.

The summer's peak rate this year was "postponed" compared to last year? No idea, though, if it was just by chance, or by some weather-to-behavior related reasons. No idea, if it means, the fall peak rate might be "postponed" as well, either.

[Person Man]

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.

Yes, but the article is from sensationalist LA Times, not MSM (they only re-published it). Credit where credit is due.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-09/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-parts-of-california-a-potentially-ominous-sign

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.

The peak of the actual numbers was in January, but the peak of the rate it was increasing was in November.

The summer's peak rate this year was "postponed" compared to last year? No idea, though, if it was just by chance, or by some weather-to-behavior related reasons. No idea, if it means, the fall peak rate might be "postponed" as well, either.

If anything, Fall probably came sooner this year than last. The tropics went from super active to dead that last week of September.

[It’s so Joever]

You’d be a fool to not expect a heavy increase in cases. What really matters now is hospital overload.
As for mask wearing?
I wish Americans were responsible humans, but they aren’t, and I have learned I can’t expect them to act civilized and a mandate is probably unrealistic at this point.

[Person Man]

You’d be a fool to not expect a heavy increase in cases. What really matters now is hospital overload.
As for mask wearing?
I wish Americans were responsible humans, but they aren’t, and I have learned I can’t expect them to act civilized and a mandate is probably unrealistic at this point.

Refuse to accept unvaccinated COVID patients. It's not because we hate those people, its only that we can't treat them AND everyone else AND they failed to mitigate as a class of people.

[It’s so Joever]

You’d be a fool to not expect a heavy increase in cases. What really matters now is hospital overload.
As for mask wearing?
I wish Americans were responsible humans, but they aren’t, and I have learned I can’t expect them to act civilized and a mandate is probably unrealistic at this point.

Refuse to accept unvaccinated COVID patients. It's not because we hate those people, its only that we can't treat them AND everyone else AND they failed to mitigate as a class of people.

I would be on board with that, but the political backlash would be horrid. I would enjoy it though.

[Crumpets]

Here's an updated map of the 14-day trend by state. 10% increments starting at zero (so, 30% = 1-9% growth/decrease, 40% = 10-19% growth/decrease, etc.). The NH numbers are probably artificially high right now because of gaps in reporting two weeks ago.

[pbrower2a]

We're starting to see very few reliable reports of death by COVID-19 in some states now being ravaged. 

[Meclazine for Israel]

US total deaths: 780,775

I thought earlier this year it would go to a million, but the mortality rate has signicantly decreased compared to the start of the pandemic.

At the start, it was closer to 2%. Now it appears to be 1.4-1.6% and falling.

Hopefully those Pfizer booster shots decrease that number further.

[Inmate Trump]

I'm getting my Moderna booster next Wednesday.  Kinda nervous, given I felt so sick with my second shot.

But it's better than getting covid.

[It’s so Joever]

I'm getting my Moderna booster next Wednesday.  Kinda nervous, given I felt so sick with my second shot.

But it's better than getting covid.

If it makes you feel better, my mother felt sick with the second but nothing with her booster.

[pbrower2a]

US total deaths: 780,775

I thought earlier this year it would go to a million, but the mortality rate has signicantly decreased compared to the start of the pandemic.

At the start, it was closer to 2%. Now it appears to be 1.4-1.6% and falling.

Hopefully those Pfizer booster shots decrease that number further.

People can get infected if inoculated, but they generally don't get as sick or have such lasting consequences.

Again, five good reasons to not risk COVID-19:

1. diabetes
2. organ damage
3. cognitive loss
4. sexual dysfunction
5. dying on a ventilator

[It’s so Joever]

US total deaths: 780,775

I thought earlier this year it would go to a million, but the mortality rate has signicantly decreased compared to the start of the pandemic.

At the start, it was closer to 2%. Now it appears to be 1.4-1.6% and falling.

Hopefully those Pfizer booster shots decrease that number further.

People can get infected if inoculated, but they generally don't get as sick or have such lasting consequences.

Again, five good reasons to not risk COVID-19:

1. diabetes
2. organ damage
3. cognitive loss
4. sexual dysfunction
5. dying on a ventilator

The fourth is not relevant for Atlas posters.

[Dr. Arch]

I'm getting my Moderna booster next Wednesday.  Kinda nervous, given I felt so sick with my second shot.

But it's better than getting covid.

I got the booster about 3 days ago. I had a sore arm for the first two days, and that's it.

[ProudModerate2]

House committee releases new evidence from investigation into Trump administration interference with CDC during Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis released to CNN on Friday new evidence showing how US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials were pressured by Trump administration officials to alter scientific guidance and prevented from communicating directly with the public.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/12/politics/house-committee-cdc-covid-trump-administration-response/index.html

Click the link above to read more detail on this story.

[jamestroll]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

[It’s so Joever]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

Who wants lockdowns?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

Who wants lockdowns?

Obviously the elitist media did.

[It’s so Joever]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

Who wants lockdowns?

Obviously the elitist media did.

Do they want lockdowns now?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

Who wants lockdowns?

Obviously the elitist media did.

Do they want lockdowns now?

I'm sure they do.

[It’s so Joever]

NO MORE LOCKDOWNS!!

Who wants lockdowns?

Obviously the elitist media did.

Do they want lockdowns now?

I'm sure they do.

You’re sure? Do you know?

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Certain people are certainly still cheerleading for, if not lockdowns, an increase in distancing measures and business restrictions. It usually takes the form of scaremongering articles that undermine vaccine confidence. But there's no political will to enforce it by any governor, nor would they be able to without massive protests that would dwarf anything in 2020.