Omicron may become dominant variant with its high transmissibility – Dr. Yong Poovorawan

[BangkokReady]

11 minutes ago, Harrith1954 said:

Well that is not the issue here, unvaccinated people are no thread to your health, as you are protected by the vaccin, OR is IT???

The vaccine doesn't completely stop the spread and vaccinated people can still be harmed by the virus.  Highly unvaccinated countries appear to have been the origin of some of the more contagious variants.  There are people who cannot get vaccinated.  Even if someone is vaccinated, it is still reasonable for them to fear unvaccinated people, as they can do so much damage.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but even if I was fully protected, I still wouldn't want to see millions of people around the world continue to get sick and die, nor disruption to the global economy and mass unemployment leading to millions of people slipping into poverty.

[TKDfella]

14 hours ago, lavezzi said:

wait, normal flu has new variants every year.

We are getting vaccinated with 2 doses and boosters too.

New variants will pop every 6/12 months.

 

Covid already has high transmissibility and now the new varaint has high transmissibility? 

What's new?

 

While we should warn and keep pressure on unvaccinated to get it we also should stop terrorizing the world.

 

 

Like the 'flu' virus Covid 19 is a zoonotic pathogen, it infects animals as well as humans. Gorillas, Ferrets, some Deer species and other animals can be infected and transmit the Corona virus (so if you like hugging Gorillas, or do the well known Ferret dare it might be wise to stop,????). So unfortunately, like 'flu', Covid transmission is assisted by the large number of animal species it can infect. Unfortunately, some people go into 'panic' mode easily and as it has been shown, some areas have a mental health problem caused by lock downs and the like and facts (like the above) make it worse for these people. If authorities don't inform the public, they may be held accountable later and if the do inform the public, they should be very careful how they do that. I think the public generally have handled it pretty well so far and perhaps authorities should recognise that and offer more encouragement. But as always, some media outlets will sensationalise.

[sezze]

1 minute ago, BangkokReady said:

The vaccine doesn't completely stop the spread and vaccinated people can still be harmed by the virus.  Highly unvaccinated countries appear to have been the origin of some of the more contagious variants.  There are people who cannot get vaccinated.  Even if someone is vaccinated, it is still reasonable for them to fear unvaccinated people, as they can do so much damage.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but even if I was fully protected, I still wouldn't want to see millions of people around the world continue to get sick and die, nor disruption to the global economy and mass unemployment leading to millions of people slipping into poverty.

Well yes , you get vaccinated , and then you done all you can , but you still do the same like anybody else should do , meaning , mask , keep distance , wash hands , and if all person would do same , then we will be fine . Being vaccinated does not give you a 100% rule .It is sad but the expectations of a vaccine which is rushed ( not untested but it still is speed up as fast as can be ) were like ; we hope it works 100% , which were unrealistic . Yes vaccinated can spread and can get sick , less then unvaccinated but surely not 100% .

[BangkokReady]

8 minutes ago, sezze said:

Well yes , you get vaccinated , and then you done all you can , but you still do the same like anybody else should do , meaning , mask , keep distance , wash hands , and if all person would do same , then we will be fine .

Indeed.  Unfortunately, this has been a pandemic of selfishness.  Another user posted a picture in another thread of someone wearing a gas mask and receiving dozens of vaccinations.  Although this was meant to be some sort of dystopian image, it did make me wonder how things would turn out if people were actually willing to pop on a gas mask and isolate for just a few weeks.

 

8 minutes ago, sezze said:

Being vaccinated does not give you a 100% rule .It is sad but the expectations of a vaccine which is rushed ( not untested but it still is speed up as fast as can be ) were like ; we hope it works 100% , which were unrealistic . Yes vaccinated can spread and can get sick , less then unvaccinated but surely not 100% .

It's unfortunate.  I think a lot of people had heard of those who had already caught the virus catching it again and antibodies decreasing over time, though, so it was at least a possibility.

[Captain Monday]

This is your esteemed national expert.

Repeating news stories from people who know no better.

[Danderman123]

Some news reports state that Omicron cases in South Africa are mild.

 

Some news reports state that hospitals in South Africa are filling up with Omicron patients.

 

so, what’s the real story?

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, thaigirlwatcher1 said:

I agree with your logic. I have tried to explain this logic to several non-scientists and they cannot follow it. The problem is if this data is confirmed later this month, then the public might misinterpret it no longer be concerned with getting vaccinations which would be highly counterproductive. 

Double vaxxed is still needed I think but the question is will boosters? It will be very interesting to see what this month brings.

Edited December 2, 2021 by dinsdale

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Corect, a lot of speculation in the absence of scientific data at this time.

 

Nevertheless, what is less ambiguous is that the current evidence suggests is that most people will need a new improved vaccine and/or 6 monthly booster shots over at least the next 1-2 years.  The problems here are the production and equitible distribution of the vaccines; and the huge demand on medical personnel to get people vaccined.   As all of us who have been vaccinated know - we front up at a vaccine site, we sit down to be registered by health support staff in front of a computer, we wait in line to be vaccined by a nurse (with a doctor close by just in case there are problems), while behind the scenes medical technicians prepare the vaccines and needles.  Is Thailand. and other countries, graduating enough medical personnel to continue this process over the next few years?  And what is happening with  the multitude of people who have had their elective surgeries postponed due to COVID-19?

If this becomes dominant and is just like a cold or a bad cold is there a need for new vaccines and boosters or is this just a money making exercise? 

[sezze]

11 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Some news reports state that Omicron cases in South Africa are mild.

 

Some news reports state that hospitals in South Africa are filling up with Omicron patients.

 

so, what’s the real story?

The real story is wait until real results , i heard some virologist say , too soon , can't be true , others say , wait to be confirmed , others say it looks like less sick ... wait till results. It will show , it might be good might be bad .

[Rimmer]

Troll meme and replies have been removed

[PEE TEE]

Top man stating the obvious ..well said 

[Jeffr2]

30 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Some news reports state that Omicron cases in South Africa are mild.

 

Some news reports state that hospitals in South Africa are filling up with Omicron patients.

 

so, what’s the real story?

A report from ONE doc with a few young patients has said cases were mild.  Same with a very limited number of cases in Israel.

 

Cases are rising dramatically in SA, along with hospitalizations.  And as we know, hospitalizations lag a bit, as do deaths.

 

Time will tell, but it's looking like another Delta variant.  Not good.

[Grusa]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Dr Yong is simply repeating what has been said by many over the last few days. 

That's all he ever does!

[Sanookmike]

10 minutes ago, sezze said:

The real story is wait until real results , i heard some virologist say , too soon , can't be true , others say , wait to be confirmed , others say it looks like less sick ... wait till results. It will show , it might be good might be bad .

Problem with it too soon is that because it's already spread it would indicate it's been around longer than before it was identified.

 

Longer than the couple weeks needed to gather data, so surely if was more deadly than the delta we would of already seen a huge rise ppl admitted to hospital.

[Jeffr2]

2 minutes ago, Sanookmike said:

Problem with it too soon is that because it's already spread it would indicate it's been around longer than before it was identified.

 

Longer than the couple weeks needed to gather data, so surely if was more deadly than the delta we would of already seen a huge rise ppl admitted to hospital.

Some reports are saying it didn't even originate in Africa!  And for sure, not SA.  They are just the ones who found it.

[Rimmer]

A misleading troll post has been removed

[Sanookmike]

2 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Some reports are saying it didn't even originate in Africa!  And for sure, not SA.  They are just the ones who found it.

Exactly it didn't just appear when they found it.. now they are actively looking for it ofc the are going to find it. Renders infection numbers kind of redundant as it could already be close to being the new dominant strain. 

[Virt]

5 minutes ago, Sanookmike said:

Exactly it didn't just appear when they found it.. now they are actively looking for it ofc the are going to find it. Renders infection numbers kind of redundant as it could already be close to being the new dominant strain. 

Yesterday an article mentioned it was in Nigeria in October, but no info where the traveler came from.

[Isaan sailor]

When it came to naming the new variant, the WHO skipped over Nu Xi (the next logical Greek letters) and settled on Omicron—to avoid upsetting a certain large population.   What is WHO afraid of?

[sqwakvfr]

Delta Variatn, MU Variant, Omicron Variant??? Some countries have overreacted.  Japan and Israel have banned all foreign arrivals.  France will lift the ban on travelers from Southern Africa this weekend.  The reaction to the new variant is all over the place.  For the first one only time I agree with the South African President:  Don’t blame or punish South Africa just because the Omicron Variant was detected in South Africa.  

 

It appears the US is going to implement the most drastic measures on international air travelers in recent memory.  It has been reported by a major newspapers based in DC the following measure are being strongly considered:

 

1. A PCR test 24 hours before departure.  This is for all travelers(US Citizens included and vaccination status does not matter).

2. A PCR test within 2 to 3 days of arriving in the US from an international flight. Not so easy and not so affordable. 

3. A 7 day Quarantine or Self Isolation for all international travelers.  This will be difficult for many reasons.  The US has many airports with international flights and which governmental agency will actually enforce any type of mandatory quarantine?  For instance landing at LAX will be quite different than landing at DFW?  The City of Los Angeles had employees at international arrivals reminding travelers to self isolate for 7 days if they are staying in Los Angeles in accordance with a city ordinance.  But of course no city agency was actually enforcing this ordinance and the only part of the of the city of Los Angeles I was in was the airport.  No such local laws are in effect in any of the surrounding cities.  

 

I firmly believe #1 will be take effect quickly but #2 and #3 will take a lot time to implement.  The US has a multi-layered and at times divided form of government.  Some states, like Florida or Texas, will probably resist these measures and I foresee legal challenges ahead.  I am returning to the US in about a month and we will see what happens before I board my flight and what happens when I land at LAX.  “Wish me luck”???? 555.

 

[cnx101]

14 hours ago, vivananahuahin said:

If you sit maskless in a crowded place, you can get Covid. But if you drink or eat something in a crowded place, you are protected and don't need a mask. This is 2021 science™!

Same in the airport you can’t sit next to anyone because you can get Covid, but on the airplane you can sit next to someone or on public transport.

[ozimoron]

7 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

When it came to naming the new variant, the WHO skipped over Nu Xi (the next logical Greek letters) and settled on Omicron—to avoid upsetting a certain large population.   What is WHO afraid of?

The WHO is afraid of unnecessarily stigmatising a large portion of the Chinese population whose surname happens to be Xi which is a common surname. No conspiracy here. Can you please clarify that you have not read any of the many posts on this forum which explain this point...

[paul1804]

There will continually be more covid strains, its here to stay. Stop trying to scare people and send the world into another tail spin, deal with it as it comes along and get on with life. I guess if you have pre existing respiratory ailments and other related sicknesses then beware & be careful. 

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, paul1804 said:

There will continually be more covid strains, its here to stay. Stop trying to scare people and send the world into another tail spin, deal with it as it comes along and get on with life. I guess if you have pre existing respiratory ailments and other related sicknesses then beware & be careful. 

Also be careful if you just happened to have maintained sufficient good health to have attained the age of 60 as the human immune system naturally declines significantly after this age. Anyone over the age of 60, regardless of their health status is vulnerable to severe illness or death from covid-19.

[raccos21]

If the Omicron dominates the Delta strain, I would wonder what's the next Greek letter named variant that would replace Omicron if the people refuse to be vaccinated or take booster shots.

[Danderman123]

46 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Some reports are saying it didn't even originate in Africa!  And for sure, not SA.  They are just the ones who found it.

If that were true, some other country would be flooded with Omicron patients. 

Possibly could be a country where they don't really pay attention to Covid. 

[ozimoron]

Undoubtedly the best way out of this is to appeal to people to stop with the politically motivated FUD and just get vaccinated, otherwise it will never end.

Edited December 2, 2021 by onthedarkside
quote of hidden post removed

[Eric Loh]

39 minutes ago, cnx101 said:

Same in the airport you can’t sit next to anyone because you can get Covid, but on the airplane you can sit next to someone or on public transport.

Don't think the airline allow passengers to sit on the wings. It's question of allowable safety space for social distancing.

[wombat]

or it may not, depending on which media you read.

[Jimbo2014]

Highest transmissibility by 2.5x delta.... of course it will become the most domination strain - thanks Dr. Obvious.