4 ms·
> The new variant is basically a bad cold Cough... Omicron being “mild” refers to the double or triple vaccinated. Even then, the problem is it’s so damn cont
by orra 5y ago
> The new variant is basically a bad cold
Cough... Omicron being “mild” refers to the double or triple vaccinated.
Even then, the problem is it’s so damn contagious that even a small percentage of severe cases puts pressure on health systems already at breaking point.
> Why do we still have these silly mandates?
That's hardly specific. There’s plenty things governments can do at this stage, some good, some bad.
For example, I’m not a fan of criminalising private mixing of individuals. I think governments should be funding healthcare, UBI or furlough, and mandating decent ventillation.
- walterbell 5y ago> Omicron being “mild” refers to the double or triple vaccinated. Is that true? It was mild in South Africa, where vaccine rates are low.
- orra 5y agoNo, it was mild in South Africa amongst the vaccinated.
- walterbell 5y agoDec 9, https://theprint.in/health/omicron-symptoms-mild-with-or-without-vaccination-says-south-africa-doctor-who-flagged-variant/778804/ https://theprint.in/health/omicron-symptoms-mild-with-or-wit... > Covid patients infected by the Omicron variant, whether vaccinated or not, usually experience mild symptoms, though in the unvaccinated, they are more intense and last longer, said Dr Angelique Coetzee, who is among the physicians who first flagged the highly mutated strain in South Africa. Dec 16, https://torontosun.com/news/world/small-south-africa-patient-study-shows-omicron-breaking-through-booster-shots https://torontosun.com/news/world/small-south-africa-patient... > A small study of seven COVID-19 cases in South Africa shows the Omicron variant can break through booster vaccine shots, one of the scientists involved said on Thursday.
- orra 5y agoNice selective reading. > usually experience mild symptoms, though in the unvaccinated, they are more intense and last longer "Usually" is key, as is "in the unvaccinated, they are more intense and last longer". Fact is, 2 vaccinate doses decreases hospitalisation by Omicron by 70%. As for break through infections? Doesn't change the fact vaccination decreases the severity in people who end up infected.
- walterbell 5y ago> 2 vaccinate doses decreases hospitalisation by Omicron by 70%. Would you happen to have a reference for that South African stat? One article mentioned that out of 43 cases documented by the CDC in the USA, only one person was hospitalized.
- orra 5y ago43 cases isn't statistically significant. It's unlikely to be representative either. The 70% figure is readily available. It's in this article somebody else quoted when failing to make an opposing point: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/14/south-africa-omicron-coronavirus/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/14/south-africa...
- walterbell 5y agoThanks, the text below is consistent with BMJ article: > He said private hospitals reported that most patients were unvaccinated and many were initially admitted for non-covid-related illnesses. There was less evidence of respiratory infections in omicron-infected patients, compared with the other variants, with fewer patients requiring oxygen, Noach added. and hospitalization is down across the board, even before the additional benefit of vaccination: > Adults are experiencing a 29% lower admission risk relative to South Africa’s first wave of infection, dominated by D614G, in early 2020. Furthermore, hospitalised adults currently have a lower propensity to be admitted to high-care and intensive-care units, relative to prior waves.”
- fullstop 5y agoIt's also summer there.
- oxymoran 5y agoNo, it does not just apply to the vaccinated because South Africa is largely unvaccinated but yet are not experiencing any increase in hospitalizations or mortality, they are actually seeing a decline. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/14/south-africa-omicron-coronavirus/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/14/south-africa... https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-thrives-airways-not-lungs-new-data-asymptomatic-cases-2021-12-15/ https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/...
- seanmcdirmid 5y agoIsn’t it summer in South Africa now? Their current COVID spike could be over, but it doesn’t it’s over for good.
- orra 5y agoDepressing but a good point. Hopefully we can stop hoarding vaccines/patents so the global south can be vaccinated before their winter.
- orra 5y agoThe first article link you posted literally agrees with me: (double?) vaccination offers 70% protection against hospitalisation by Omicron.