Omicron variant

[Warrior2008]

I'm just glad someone quoted his "severe rxn of the man gland" comment.  I don't think that's a covid/vaccine problem.  Perhaps he should ask his assistants if they've been around too much, if you know what I mean.

Also, no booster rocket?

For all we know, Rocket could be Nicki Manaj's cousin.

[Uncle Rico]

For all we know, Rocket could be Nicki Manaj's cousin.

He'd be beside himself if that were true

[jficke13]

For all we know, Rocket could be Nicki Manaj's cousin.

Nicki Manaj's cousin's friend, right?

[jesmu84]

He'd be beside himself if that were true

Lolz

[Skatastrophy]

I'm just here for the "rocket's thicc" storyline

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm just here for the "rocket's thicc" storyline

Pony up for his only fans, cheapskate.

[tower912]

73% of new infections are omicron, not delta.

[MU82]

Fox Corporation, the owner of Fox News, told employees on Friday that those working in New York City would have to show proof they'd had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine by Dec. 27, removing the option to get tested weekly instead.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/business/fox-vaccine-mandate.html

[Uncle Rico]

Fox Corporation, the owner of Fox News, told employees on Friday that those working in New York City would have to show proof they'd had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine by Dec. 27, removing the option to get tested weekly instead.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/business/fox-vaccine-mandate.html

I assume Tucker will be quitting

[Mr. Nielsen]

I assume Tucker will be quitting

Tucker doesn't work out of NYC.

[Uncle Rico]

Tucker doesn't work out of NYC.

He's a principled man

[MU82]

Good news: South Africa already seems to have passed its peak with the new variant, as infections have dropped dramatically.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-africa-johannesburg-south-africa-f4b59ecde3029295f7b96f2d0ff44042?user_email=&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MorningWire_Dec22&utm_term=Morning%20Wire%20Subscribers

[Goose]

82

That is good news on South Africa, unfortunately we have 4-5 regions in the USA that will be passing this around. Since Covid started we have not had a national outbreak, but rather regional outbreaks. It would be great if we could burn through this in a month, but I do not think that is realistic.

[tower912]

It is so contagious that it is likely that anyone who is not vaccinated will probably have been exposed to it by St. Patrick's day.   

[Skatastrophy]

It is so contagious that it is likely that anyone who is not vaccinated will probably have been exposed to it by St. Patrick's day.   

Too bad % chance of reinfection is so high (from what I have read from pre-print studies, that I'm probably not qualified to comment on)

[Warriors4ever]

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59758784

Fingers crossed

[Warriors4ever]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-study-urges-rethink-of-covids-nature-indicates-antioxidants-may-help/?fbclid=IwAR3RBt2-AUL0YlHl0odLVMYzLHGj1Cp3t2ZqoOutAhkPj0_1fNAMwmC9eB0

Not specific to Omicron, but intriguing.

[Lennys Tap]

It is so contagious that it is likely that anyone who is not vaccinated will probably have been exposed to it by St. Patrick's day.

What does being vaccinated have to do with whether or not one is exposed? Everyone will be exposed by then, right? Don't know if it's correct, but what I read was two shots give 30% protection, boosters 60-70%.

[#UnleashSean]

Cdc just reduced their estimation of omicron from 77% to 59%. New theories that delta is the main leader of hospitization.

[Skatastrophy]

Cdc just reduced their estimation of omicron from 77% to 59%. New theories that delta is the main leader of hospitization.

The US has been pretty far behind in virus sequencing this entire pandemic.

A while back on scoop we talked about virus identification and sequencing at the waste-water treatment level so that you could identify the health of the population, and I wish that was a reality.

[lawdog77]

What does being vaccinated have to do with whether or not one is exposed? Everyone will be exposed by then, right? Don't know if it's correct, but what I read was two shots give 30% protection, boosters 60-70%.

Looks like the booster may not prevent symptoms for very long.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211227/covid-booster-protection-wanes-new-data

Still no reason not to get it though

[Hards Alumni]

Personally, I know many more people testing positive now than any other time in the pandemic.  Congregate sites being closed again for outbreaks and exposures.

'22 is going to be off to a miserable start.

[forgetful]

Looks like the booster may not prevent symptoms for very long.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211227/covid-booster-protection-wanes-new-data

Still no reason not to get it though

This is not surprising. The Omicron S1 domain that is used for vaccines and recognized by neutralizing antibodies is just too different to provide robust and lasting protection against symptomatic illness.

Illnesses will likely be more mild, but will be symptomatic.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This is crazy.  MA has been consistently tracking COVID in their wastewater the entire pandemic.  It is off the charts higher than at any point in the last two years. 

https://www.mwra.com/biobot/MWRAData20211229-graphs.pdf

[jesmu84]

Sure glad the CDC caved to big business interests on time off