SURVEY: Omicron--Dangerous, Worrisome or Overblown?

[Scott]

Troll post removed. 

[Jeffr2]

12 hours ago, mommysboy said:

Not according to the latest BBC world news bulletin I listened to. There are many hospitalizations but crucially far less people are getting in to that awful state we all dread.  

 

This is the trouble I guess. For just about every story that says one thing there's another that says the opposite.

It is according to the SA health authorities.  I'll believe the world on the ground vs. the BBC.

 

I've posted links to guys following the data there.  Not just news reports.

[Jeffr2]

Follow these guys.  Lots of good info if you read their Tweets.

 

https://twitter.com/jburnmurdoch

 

 

[Jeffr2]

 

 

 

[Trvlr55]

On 12/4/2021 at 11:04 PM, TorquayFan said:

Scott that poll - it's hard to choose just one of those options.

 

What do we know ?

 

1. by all accounts, Omicron is much more infectious than Delta, maybe x 5 . .

2. experience in other Countries suggests that Omicron evades the immunity generated from previous Covid infection giving rise to fears that it may also bypass vaccine generated immunity.

3. there are hopes as yet unproven, that the illness may not be as severe. No knowledge either as to whether long Covid may result from an Omicron infection.

 

In a week or two we'll know more of course. Take care.

I think that the proof, so far for #3, is actually here.

 

US Gvt officials, and officials from other countries, excluding South Africa, when asked specifically about the severity of this variant, and if people are hospitalized, change the subject. This indicates that the reports out of South Africa, is correct. i.e. no hospitalizations, nobody really sick.

 

Viruses like anything else, want to survive.

Killing your host, is not good for long term survival.

Mutations, over time, get weaker and weaker, and more easily transmittable. "excluding sci-fi movies of course!"

Over time, the weaker, more transmittable, simply out-compete the earlier more dangerous variants.

 

This is how the world eventually climbed out of the 1917 pandemic.

This is how this one will end.

 

There is no technology currently to prevent the spread of covid.

Lock-downs and other measures, do little if anything to prevent the spread.

Vaccines help, but there will never be a 100 percent  vaccine, that every human can that that is also without risk to every human on the planet.

 

Many reports today saying that this most likely originated somewhere else, not South Africa. They were however the first one to report it, so governments everywhere taking the same knee-jerk reactions they have in the past 2 years. However there is not proof, than any of these lock-downs have ever worked so far. It's now been found in a traveler coming into Thailand, as well as found in many countries in the past 2 days.

38 counties 2 days ago, this has probably doubled as of today. Within the next week, will have been found everywhere, if counties take the effort to look.

 

There's no point in closing the barn door, once all the horses have left the barn.

 

Do we really want to keep the entire world shutdown, for symptoms that are less than the common cold.

 

the flu kills a whole lot of people every year, world wide.

pneumonia kills a whole lot of people every year, world wide.

lookup the numbers, you will be shocked!

 

The PM stated a month ago, Covid is not going to be completely defeated, ever!

We need to start planning to live with it.

Now is not the time to abandon this idea, and go back to the failed policies of the past.

 

[Sheryl]

8 minutes ago, Trvlr55 said:

I think that the proof, so far for #3, is actually here.

 

US Gvt officials, and officials from other countries, excluding South Africa, when asked specifically about the severity of this variant, and if people are hospitalized, change the subject. This indicates that the reports out of South Africa, is correct. i.e. no hospitalizations, nobody really sick...

 

There have been many hospitalizations in South Africa.

 

No deaths to date.

 

It is still too soon to draw any conclusions about severity. The overwhelming majority of cases so far identified have been in younger people.

[Scott]

Omicron, from the time it appeared, didn't concern me as much as the emergence of most of the other variants of concern. 

 

We have been fairly lucky with Covid in that the coronaviruses do not mutate as fast as some other classes of viruses.  When it reproduces, it has an 'error editor' that helps to eliminate copies that are not exactly the same.  This does fail and mutations do arise.

 

What appears to be different with this variant is that it has picked up viral material from another coronavirus, one associated with the common cold.  That's a different ball game, that is recombination.  Recombination is when viral material gets exchanged and it is what makes the flu such a moving target in vaccines.  

 

[mommysboy]

17 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

It is according to the SA health authorities.  I'll believe the world on the ground vs. the BBC.

 

I've posted links to guys following the data there.  Not just news reports.

This was a report actually from the chief doctor in the main epicenter hospital in SA.

 

Well, ok, but even Fauci is saying the same now.

[jak2002003]

It's definitely not worrisome.   But, it is worrying. 

[Trvlr55]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

There have been many hospitalizations in South Africa.

 

No deaths to date.

 

It is still too soon to draw any conclusions about severity. The overwhelming majority of cases so far identified have been in younger people.

Not certain that is correct !!

The woman in charge of their version of CDC said all cases are very, very mild.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-south-africas-omicron-hot-spot-rcna6922

 

This is quite misleading.... as one could expect from NBC.

They refer to omicron, but then state "hospitalizations have went up after discovery of the new variant. They are NOT stating, these are Omicron hospitalizations.

If there are "more" please reference a reliable source, and not the normal rag-tag bunch of reporters, who are barely, if at all capable, of reporting a single car accident correctly.

 

"In a statement Sunday, the WHO cautioned against drawing conclusions about a link between the omicron variant and the increase in hospitalizations."

 

Everyone really needs to realize the the world press at this point, is pumping the fear, as typical. It's easier to ride a long term story, then attempt to dig up some real "NEW" news.

 

 

[Thunglom]

I would say it's a no-brainer to err on the side of caution.

 

one major factor will be if Thailand sees any spike as a result of omicron it will immediately be red-listed by other countries.

this will have a knock-on affect on tourism. In fact it already is reducing figures in Europes.

[sezze]

Just wait , it appears to be much faster spreading then Delta , this is almost certain now , almost not 100% sure . About the severity of the infection , since it is only short time this is under investigation , it is too early to tell . It is a worrying variation since many differences and the faster spreading rate . It has to have a lot less virulent ( making people less sick) to come out like a good version . It might be , but let's stop speculating and watch what actually happens , it will take 1/2 weeks more to get more reliable data in .

[Thunglom]

46 minutes ago, Trvlr55 said:

Not certain that is correct !!

The woman in charge of their version of CDC said all cases are very, very mild.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-south-africas-omicron-hot-spot-rcna6922

 

This is quite misleading.... as one could expect from NBC.

They refer to omicron, but then state "hospitalizations have went up after discovery of the new variant. They are NOT stating, these are Omicron hospitalizations.

If there are "more" please reference a reliable source, and not the normal rag-tag bunch of reporters, who are barely, if at all capable, of reporting a single car accident correctly.

 

"In a statement Sunday, the WHO cautioned against drawing conclusions about a link between the omicron variant and the increase in hospitalizations."

 

Everyone really needs to realize the the world press at this point, is pumping the fear, as typical. It's easier to ride a long term story, then attempt to dig up some real "NEW" news.

 

 

so what do you suggest is the right course to take - in Thailand?

 

[TorquayFan]

Insights to some latest data from Gauteng Province which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria and 25% of RSA's population. Massive transmissibility is suggested by sewage analyses. There seems to be a lower amount of severe illness and hospitalisation. Here's the report : hTTps://www.samrc.ac.za/news/tshwane-district-omicron-variant-patient-profile-early-features

[Bkk Brian]

5 hours ago, Trvlr55 said:

Not certain that is correct !!

The woman in charge of their version of CDC said all cases are very, very mild.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-south-africas-omicron-hot-spot-rcna6922

 

This is quite misleading.... as one could expect from NBC.

They refer to omicron, but then state "hospitalizations have went up after discovery of the new variant. They are NOT stating, these are Omicron hospitalizations.

If there are "more" please reference a reliable source, and not the normal rag-tag bunch of reporters, who are barely, if at all capable, of reporting a single car accident correctly.

 

"In a statement Sunday, the WHO cautioned against drawing conclusions about a link between the omicron variant and the increase in hospitalizations."

 

Everyone really needs to realize the the world press at this point, is pumping the fear, as typical. It's easier to ride a long term story, then attempt to dig up some real "NEW" news.

 

 

There can be no denying that hospital admissions have shot up in SA and with 84% of sequenced cases being the Omicron variant you can draw your own conclusions. However ICU admissions and deaths are certainly not at alarming levels considering how many cases there are daily.

 

Time will tell but there are some positive indications, its not all bad. Fingers crossed.

[Jeffr2]

5 hours ago, Trvlr55 said:

Not certain that is correct !!

The woman in charge of their version of CDC said all cases are very, very mild.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-south-africas-omicron-hot-spot-rcna6922

 

This is quite misleading.... as one could expect from NBC.

They refer to omicron, but then state "hospitalizations have went up after discovery of the new variant. They are NOT stating, these are Omicron hospitalizations.

If there are "more" please reference a reliable source, and not the normal rag-tag bunch of reporters, who are barely, if at all capable, of reporting a single car accident correctly.

 

"In a statement Sunday, the WHO cautioned against drawing conclusions about a link between the omicron variant and the increase in hospitalizations."

 

Everyone really needs to realize the the world press at this point, is pumping the fear, as typical. It's easier to ride a long term story, then attempt to dig up some real "NEW" news.

 

 

This doctor is seeing a very limited number of patients, all of whom are young.  Hardly representative of the global population.  And even she says it's too early to tell.

 

What's true is the rapid rise in cases and hospitalizations.  More hospitalizations typically equate to more deaths.  Again, too early to tell, but we do know it's more transmissible.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/06/africa/south-africa-omicron-covid-surge-intl/index.html

 

South Africans brace for the worst amid Omicron surge

 

On Friday, it surpassed the 3 million Covid-19 case mark as infections soar throughout the country, days after health officials warned the world about the potentially more contagious Omicron variant. It is now dominating daily infections which have increased five-fold in just one week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Monday in his weekly newsletter, adding that nearly a quarter of all Covid-19 tests were coming back positive.

[Jeffr2]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

There can be no denying that hospital admissions have shot up in SA and with 84% of sequenced cases being the Omicron variant you can draw your own conclusions. However ICU admissions and deaths are certainly not at alarming levels considering how many cases there are daily.

 

Time will tell but there are some positive indications, its not all bad. Fingers crossed.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. LOL

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. LOL

My motto exactly, as all Public Health bodies do. I have a family I look after and its the same as having adequate insurance from any threat.

[bbko]

On 12/5/2021 at 6:16 PM, Jingthing said:

So again, WAIT for more info please.

Now is not the time for rational thinking, it's time for fear mongering, unfounded speculation and alternative facts...????????????

[Jeffr2]

4 minutes ago, bbko said:

Now is not the time for rational thinking, it's time for fear mongering, unfounded speculation and alternative facts...????????????

And troll posts?

[Scott]

A post has been removed with a link to the BKK Post.  The Post is not allowed. 

 

[Danderman123]

6,000 new cases in South Africa today. 9 dead. 

 

I am edging towards calling this a nothingburger, basically, the same as the flu. 

 

My concern is the impact on young children. Omicron might somehow have mutated into a baby killer. 

Edited December 7, 2021 by Danderman123

[Jeffr2]

5 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

6,000 new cases in South Africa today. 9 dead. 

 

I am edging towards calling this a nothingburger, basically, the same as the flu. 

 

 

True if you're vaccinated.  Not true if you aren't.

 

[Jeffr2]

6 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

6,000 new cases in South Africa today. 9 dead. 

 

I am edging towards calling this a nothingburger, basically, the same as the flu.

We'll need to show this to the many members here who keep saying "But, but, but...no one has died!".

 

Deaths lag. 

[mommysboy]

3 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

6,000 new cases in South Africa today. 9 dead. 

 

I am edging towards calling this a nothingburger, basically, the same as the flu. 

 

My concern is the impact on young children. Omicron might somehow have mutated into a baby killer. 

The issue with younger children could be a combination of viral conditions.

[Rimmer]

Off topic misleading troll post removed

[mommysboy]

3 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

We'll need to show this to the many members here who keep saying "But, but, but...no one has died!".

 

Deaths lag. 

It seems to be a different pattern of symptoms though.  But you're right we need to wait and see.

[Danderman123]

2 hours ago, mommysboy said:

The issue with younger children could be a combination of viral conditions.

Right. The data is too ratty right now to make any conclusions. 

[Thunglom]

15 hours ago, sezze said:

Just wait

Delay is probably the worst course of action. If it turns out not to be that serious, they can immediately reduce precautions.

[Thunglom]

3 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Right. The data is too ratty right now to make any conclusions. 

No it isn't - we already know a hi=uge mount about both Covid and viruses - By looking at the virus we can make some pretty good focuses. It is best to take precautions now and if the figures show this to be necessary that they can be relaxed.