COVID-19 Stuff Here

[Derpus]

with near 95% fully vaccinated, this new variant being less dangerous and summer finally starting we should be fine

Cases and hospitalisations trending up, though. I fully expect another panic shutdown or, at the very least, some more closed borders.

 

[Pfitzy]

Higher transmission.
Lower risk.

This virus is on the way out.

That said, I'm avoiding any mass gatherings where possible, in order to ensure my holidays are at least sans isolation.

Except the isolation I choose, of course.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yep, the commentary I've seen from RSA is that it's more contagious but not any more dangerous. That should be a positive.

 

[Rob42]

Higher transmission.
Lower risk.

This virus is on the way out.

That said, I'm avoiding any mass gatherings where possible, in order to ensure my holidays are at least sans isolation.

Except the isolation I choose, of course.

So, Pfitzy, yes, that's all common sense, good work. I assume some of our state leaders will therefore take the opposite approach.

 

[Sully]

Have to say I'm a little nervous about Omicron. I had AZ and my five months doesn't kick in until jan 13. From all accounts, AZ offers very little protection from this variant after a few months. I wonder If I can talk my doc into getting it early.

 

[Derpus]

Have to say I'm a little nervous about Omicron. I had AZ and my five months doesn't kick in until jan 13. From all accounts, AZ offers very little protection from this variant after a few months. I wonder If I can talk my doc into getting it early.

Really? everything I've read has said that we don't know shit yet but early signs are that vaccines remain effective and the disease is milder, regardless.

 

[Sully]

Really? everything I've read has said that we don't know shit yet but early signs are that vaccines remain effective and the disease is milder, regardless.

Pfizer, AstraZeneca less effective at fighting Omicron

Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines are not as effective in fighting off the Omicron variant compared to other strains, according to a new study published Monday.

www.news.com.au

Two jabs offer little protection against Omicron infection, UK data shows

Health agency says booster raises protection as new daily infection figure rises to highest since January

www.theguardian.com

Suggestions that protection could be as low as 10%. But yes very early days.

 

[Derpus]

No scientist here but it's curious they seem confident enough to state that two doses of vaccine over three months ago no longer appears to prevent disease but that they don't know whether Omicron is less severe or not.

Surely assessing the severity of known infections is central to drawing both conclusions?

 

[I like to watch]

Have to say I'm a little nervous about Omicron. I had AZ and my five months doesn't kick in until jan 13. From all accounts, AZ offers very little protection from this variant after a few months. I wonder If I can talk my doc into getting it early.

Reports I’ve read is it’s basically zero protection.
im with you,
I want a boost.
sceptics can man up and take the risk.
me, not so much.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Study out of SA this morning says two shots of Pfizer is only 33% effective against infection & 70% against hospitalisation. Everyone in my household will be getting the booster as soon as we're eligible (six month wait period over here except as below).

Pfizer shot less effective in South Africa after Omicron emerges, study shows

Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has been less effective in South Africa at keeping people infected with the virus out of hospital since the Omicron variant emerged last month, a real-world study published on Tuesday showed.

www.reuters.com

Sully I'd have thought that if you're higher-risk or live with someone who is then your GP could fast-track you for a booster? That's what's happening over here wrt the immuno-comprised & people with e.g. Diabetes & certain heart/ respiratory conditions.

 

[Pfitzy]

1300ish cases in NSW on the day some of the protocols change WRT checkin, masks, and UFHs (Unvaxxed Freedom Heroes) allowed to do whatever they want.

Unless it's a pub, brothel, or public transport

 

[Derpus]

Quarantine should no longer be a thing

 

[Rob42]

And Qld sends a plane load of masked & vaccinated "contacts" into 2 weeks of quarantine

Apparently Qld has now backed off the quarantine requirement for most passengers on that flight. Reading the Qld update, the most positive part of that is that the Qld CHO has said that the change of heart was after talking to other state CHOs and trying to align with national guidelines - about time!

 

[Brumby Runner]

And Qld sends a plane load of masked & vaccinated "contacts" into 2 weeks of quarantine

While NSW has required up to 700 people who were at particular pubs/music venues to isolate. Is that really much different?

 

[Derpus]

While NSW has required up to 700 people who were at particular pubs/music venues to isolate. Is that really much different?

Yes. Sitting alone in a hotel room for two weeks is a very unpleasant experience.

 

[dru]

It is like the thing is following the normal evolutionary steps in becoming more infectious but less deadly

A virus wants to reproduce, a dead host doesn't allow that reproduction -colds are the definition of a successful virus

This sort of statement is increasingly common - but to nitpick. Unicellular life is not conscious and can't "want" anything. A virus is not even that. It is not even a life form. It's a set of two molecules - one the DNA/RNA the other the capsid which are meshed together. It is a chemical not a life.

 

[tragic]

I think we’ll see a booster next year targeting the omicron strain if it continues to gain traction as the dominant variant - much as the seasonal flu vax differs each year depending on the prevalent strains in the preceding overseas winter,

 

[Braveheart81]

While NSW has required up to 700 people who were at particular pubs/music venues to isolate. Is that really much different?

NSW only requires them to isolate for 7 days.

Queensland has changed their ruling and said that only people within two rows are close contacts and need to isolate. The others are casual contacts and just need a negative test.

The problem with Queensland is they were effectively making it up on the fly. No one was told before getting on the flight that if there was a single positive case on their flight that they would then have to isolate for 14 days.

 

[Pfitzy]

Apparently Qld has now backed off the quarantine requirement for most passengers on that flight. Reading the Qld update, the most positive part of that is that the Qld CHO has said that the change of heart was after talking to other state CHOs and trying to align with national guidelines - about time!

Winning an election is a helluva thing.

 

[Pfitzy]

The problem with Queensland basically every government is they were are effectively making it up on the fly.

Fixed.

And I'm not just limiting that to Covid.