Thailand bans arrivals from 8 African countries as a precaution against new COVID-19 variant Omicron

[3NUMBAS]

global slump in airline shares looks like it may  last a while  ,back to square 1 again

covid  is running pampant in mainland europe without nu

[RichardColeman]

Might be worth remembering nobody has actually died of this variant yet before we decide to madly close the planet down again.

 

Also I fail to see why it should affect any tourism or travel if pcr tested before flight, vaccine and tested on arrival. You are far more likely to get it on your travels from the locals than you infect them after all the rigmarole to get there

[WHansen]

12 minutes ago, mavi said:

bla bla bla....

you are so funny, thank you so much for the Sunday laugh !

 

 

?

[WHansen]

A year ago we had a similar response to the S.A Beta.....

At the moment this is all cautionary as not enough is currently known

[Isaan sailor]

Too bad countries couldn’t act so fast to ban flights from Wuhan back in December 2019.

[Jeffr2]

49 minutes ago, mavi said:

bla bla bla....

you are so funny, thank you so much for the Sunday laugh !

 

 

Sad some don't understand this and resort to conspiracy theories.

[Chris.B]

36 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Too bad countries couldn’t act so fast to ban flights from Wuhan back in December 2019.

Bojo dithered for months... ☹️

[ozimoron]

37 minutes ago, WHansen said:

A year ago we had a similar response to the S.A Beta.....

At the moment this is all cautionary as not enough is currently known

Why single out Beta? We had the same reaction to Alpha and Delta as well Remember "15 going down to zero" and "It will be gone before easter"? Waiting until we know we have a deadly plague that will kill millions before we act doesn't seem that prudent to me. There are better game plans. What we actually need is a hard and fast lock down until we know what we are dealing with and can then make an educated plan.

[Cake Monster]

8 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Now in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Botswana and South Africa. What a difference a couple of days makes.

If this is  the case, then the Transmissibility of this Variant is incredible.

What it also means, is that Countries that are not performing high numbers of tests, are most likely to be at risk, and some may already have this Variant within their Borders.

I think Thailands policy of Tourists taking ATK tests now, may seem futile against this Variant, as many other Countries are re-introducing the PCR testing again, and actually tightening their borders to at least slow the spread.

I believe there is a real feeling of dread among the Medical Profession around the Globe on this one, as Governments are pulling up the drawbridges very rapidly indeed.

[GroveHillWanderer]

3 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

This is true. But I believe it was in Botswana. Somehow it got mixed in with the HIV virus and mutated. Seems to be going after younger people now.

It didn't "mix" with the HIV virus - it's just that when someone has HIV, their immune system doesn't work properly and variants typically arise in people who can't fight off infection, giving the virus plenty of time to accumulate genetic changes, as explained in the article below.

 

Virus Variants Likely Evolved Inside People With Weak Immune Systems

 

Also, according to the doctor that first notified authorities about the omicron variant, it may not actually be that scary. She says it only appears to cause mild symptoms, even in the unvaccinated.

 

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

[Mac Mickmanus]

8 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Now in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Botswana and South Africa. What a difference a couple of days makes.

Doesn't that show that all the travelling precautions are ineffective ?

   All the tests and quarantining and safety measures have all been ineffective in containing the virus from spreading  

[alyx]

8 hours ago, Willy Wombat said:

The Chinese gift that keeps on giving.

 

Oh? you don't know? This "made in China" product was sold with a lifetime guarantee 

[Bkk Brian]

29 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

It didn't "mix" with the HIV virus - it's just that when someone has HIV, their immune system doesn't work properly and variants typically arise in people who can't fight off infection, giving the virus plenty of time to accumulate genetic changes, as explained in the article below.

 

Virus Variants Likely Evolved Inside People With Weak Immune Systems

 

Also, according to the doctor that first notified authorities about the omicron variant, it may not actually be that scary. She says it only appears to cause mild symptoms, even in the unvaccinated.

 

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’

That quote by the doctor is being taken out of context as the BNO newsroom points out:

 

"A widely-shared quote from a South African doctor, saying Omicron causes only mild symptoms, is being taken out of context. She was referring to a small group of young, healthy people and warned of severe disease in other groups https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/south-african-doctor-raised-alarm-omicron-variant-says-symptoms/"

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1464734073897766919

 

[itsari]

26 minutes ago, alyx said:

Oh? you don't know? This "made in China" product was sold with a lifetime guarantee 

And millions have bought it so to speak

[alyx]

7 minutes ago, itsari said:

And millions have bought it so to speak

Quality sells

[itsari]

14 minutes ago, alyx said:

Quality sells

No chance of a review from those that bought it sadly 

[KhaoYai]

This is just madness.  The new variant will get into Thailand whatever they do - just as the Delta variant did. What are we going to do? Close the world forever?  What happened to learning to live with the virus Mr. Chan-oh-Cha?

 

Trip planned for 29 December, booked, paid for, Thailand Pass received - 2 cases in the UK already, there will be more.  Very doubtful my trip will go ahead - I cannot accept 14 days quarantine.

 

There was a report on UK TV this morning with a live interview of a doctor in South Africa who has been dealing with patients infected with the new variant. All the patients this doctor has dealt with had been double vaccinated and ALL only had mild symptoms - yet to see how it affects people who have not been vaccinated.

 

The answer seems quite simple - get the population vaccinated and get on with your life!!  Let those who don't want the vaccine take their chances.

[djayz]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

one thing for sure, thats the nail  in the chinese coming next year

What a pity... 

[KhaoYai]

1 hour ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Doesn't that show that all the travelling precautions are ineffective ?

   All the tests and quarantining and safety measures have all been ineffective in containing the virus from spreading  

Yes. Unless a country bans all travel and seals its borders WHICH INCLUDES STOPPING POLITICIANS FROM TRAVELLING - travel bans will do very little other than slow down the inevitable.  The UK for example has banned travel from a number of infected countries but the Omicron variant is present in several EU countries that are not covered by restricted travel.  There are 2 cases in the UK already and there will almost certainly be more.

[Jeffr2]

4 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

This is just madness.  The new variant will get into Thailand whatever they do - just as the Delta variant did. What are we going to do? Close the world forever?  What happened to learning to live with the virus Mr. Chan-oh-Cha?

 

Trip planned for 29 December, booked, paid for, Thailand Pass received - 2 cases in the UK already, there will be more.  Very doubtful my trip will go ahead - I cannot accept 14 days quarantine.

 

There was a report on UK TV this morning with a live interview of a doctor in South Africa who has been dealing with patients infected with the new variant. All the patients this doctor has dealt with had been double vaccinated and ALL only had mild symptoms - yet to see how it affects people who have not been vaccinated.

 

The answer seems quite simple - get the population vaccinated and get on with your life!!  Let those who don't want the vaccine take their chances.

We don't really know how effective the current vaccines are with this new variant and won't for some time. I'd be leary of a report from one doctor in south Africa. We need more time to study it.

 

As for the unvaccinated. They are the reason for this variant and the current chaos. Time for mandates.

[itsari]

5 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

This is just madness.  The new variant will get into Thailand whatever they do - just as the Delta variant did. What are we going to do? Close the world forever?  What happened to learning to live with the virus Mr. Chan-oh-Cha?

 

Trip planned for 29 December, booked, paid for, Thailand Pass received - 2 cases in the UK already, there will be more.  Very doubtful my trip will go ahead - I cannot accept 14 days quarantine.

 

There was a report on UK TV this morning with a live interview of a doctor in South Africa who has been dealing with patients infected with the new variant. All the patients this doctor has dealt with had been double vaccinated and ALL only had mild symptoms - yet to see how it affects people who have not been vaccinated.

 

The answer seems quite simple - get the population vaccinated and get on with your life!!  Let those who don't want the vaccine take their chances.

I understand your frustrations , yet anyone travelling in these pandemic times has to be aware of the pit-falls involved ,

 

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, KhaoYai said:

Yes. Unless a country bans all travel and seals its borders WHICH INCLUDES STOPPING POLITICIANS FROM TRAVELLING - travel bans will do very little other than slow down the inevitable.  The UK for example has banned travel from a number of infected countries but the Omicron variant is present in several EU countries that are not covered by restricted travel.  There are 2 cases in the UK already and there will almost certainly be more.

But that's what they are trying to do. Slow down the inevitable so they can get more prepared. They admit this.

[Jeffr2]

Just now, itsari said:

I understand your frustrations , yet anyone travelling in these pandemic times has to be aware of the pit-falls involved ,

 

I got stuck in Portugal for several weeks due to rule changes. Traveling right now is really frustrating.

[bojo]

3 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

I got stuck in Portugal for several weeks due to rule changes. Traveling right now is really frustrating.

Certainly scuppering my earlyish semi retirement plans................................

[Dont confuse me]

Governments after the experience of covid-19 should now know what to expect and have things in place to handle any new varients.

Unfortunately shutting boarders and implementing quarantine is a necessity at least until more is known about this Omicron varient.

[itsari]

4 minutes ago, bojo said:

Certainly scuppering my earlyish semi retirement plans................................

Many plans have sunk 6 feet under , look at the bright side of life

[bojo]

1 minute ago, itsari said:

Many plans have sunk 6 feet under , look at the bright side of life

Thanks for the reminder, need to pinch myself sometimes.........................................

[dunroaming]

10 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Unfortunately, if Thailand did not ban entry from certain countries with known cases, then other countries will stop travel from Thailand.

 

It's just politicians pretending to protect their people, as any new variant that spreads quicker than the old model will be everywhere in time - but impotent politicians have to be seen to do something, even if it adds no value and wrecks the economy.

 

UK now has the new variant, so maybe next on the ban list?

The WHO were very quick to flag up the Omicron variant as being of considerable concern, meaning it must be taken seriously.  Countries are responding accordingly .  It is said that the current vaccinations will not give the same protection as before even if double jabbed with a booster.  In the UK Johnson is still promising that Christmas will be as normal this year but nobody is buying his bull anymore.

[RichardColeman]

All this is going to lead to is every country that finds a variant, not declaring it. Why would any country destroy their entire economy by having the world declare them a pariah ? 

 

[itsari]

6 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

The WHO were very quick to flag up the Omicron variant as being of considerable concern, meaning it must be taken seriously.  Countries are responding accordingly .  It is said that the current vaccinations will not give the same protection as before even if double jabbed with a booster.  In the UK Johnson is still promising that Christmas will be as normal this year but nobody is buying his bull anymore.

It will take 100 days to modify the vaccines to cope with omicron .