3 ms·

Omicron is not Delta and it certainly not the original strain. This makes no sense to me, why?

• Andaith 5y ago
  My knowledge is a bit outdated(and if this is wrong, you can skip reading my comment) but as far as I know the Chinese vaccines don't protect against Omicron at all. Meaning it's basically spreading in a 1.4b population with no immunity. (No vaccine immunity and no natural immunity due to Covid-Zero approach) Even if it's less deadly, if the finite resources to treat severe cases run out, then all severe cases become fatal cases, and then it's much much more deadly. ...and it's not less deadly. Omicron is 1.06 times as lethal as the original strain, and Delta is 2.3 times or something. I can't remember exactly, haven't followed covid as closely. China is almost back at square one: Outbreak of covid variant for which they have no immunity, which spreads faster than the original, and which is slightly deadlier. The things they do have though: Could buy Pfizer or Moderna for their vulnerable populations, institutional medical knowledge of how to treat covid and good care pathways, solid testing system(remember at the start when they were doing radiology tests and looking at the damage to the lungs? We've come a long way from then), plenty of time to prepare for an outbreak and increase capacity in the healthcare system. For China, right now, lockdowns are the best tool they can use.