all signs point to far higher infectiousness, which means more infected. if the rate of hospitalizations per infection stay the same, absolute hospitalizations

all signs point to far higher infectiousness, which means more infected. if the rate of hospitalizations per infection stay the same, absolute hospitalizations will rise according to the total infection numbers plus a higher rate of vaccinated patients due to the lowered effectiveness. we had to to relocate patients to hospitals in other states only a few days ago because some of them were already completely at or over capacity. i fear that with omikron the numbers will rise to a level where there just isn't enough capacity, and in that case the survival rate of (potential) ICU patients will drop from 50% to ... well. what do you think happens if you send an ICU patient home? > And you say extended lockdowns for the unvaxed have failed because they 'cheated' without mention that being vaccinated does not a) stop you getting covid or b) prevent you spreading it. it's true that being vaccinated doesn't stop you getting covid, but it reduces the chance of getting it greatly. it also doesn't prevent you spreading it, but the window of you being infectious is smaller and you'll just a lot less infectious if you're not infected yourself due to the vaccine. > Most of your points here are rote repetition of the media talking points well, they're the talking points of scientists i trust on this issue. i perceive his talking points as rote repetition of media talking points too, just from right wing/denier media. > Aren't they vaxed, therefore not concerned? all the vaccine does is lowering the risk! it doesn't make the unvaxxed immune. nobody denies that. the vaccination is just one action of many. a powerful one though. ireland has high rates of vaccination and few deaths. austria has comparably low rates of vaccination and many more of deaths. it's not that complicated! vaccination never would have been made mandatory if people would have gone on their own, but since the right started to radicalize and mobilize people this chance is lost forever.