Coronavirus All Purpose Thread: The unnecessary Dumb Dumb 4th wave

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by GGG

Two flights out of South Africa had 10% positivity. 61/600. 13 confirmed to be omicron. If the disease is that prevent already it could be good news as 10% of a population infected would destroy hospitals. So this could be the mutation that increases infection but decreases virulence. Lots of speculation on my part.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.alja...in-netherlands

High infection plus low virulence seems like a potentially beneficial - if everyone got it, had minimal symptoms, and then had better immunity for more dangerous variants.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by GGG

Two flights out of South Africa had 10% positivity. 61/600. 13 confirmed to be omicron. If the disease is that prevent already it could be good news as 10% of a population infected would destroy hospitals. So this could be the mutation that increases infection but decreases virulence. Lots of speculation on my part.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.alja...in-netherlands

I don't think that's representative of the wider population, so you can't really draw prevalence estimates from it. Omicron is pretty trivial to detect even without genomic sequencing because it'll show an S-gene dropout in the PCR test (similar to B.1.1.7, but that barely exists anymore). So unless there are a massive number of S-gene dropouts appearing on PCR tests (I'd assume not based on everything I've read), then it likely hasn't spread all that much yet.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by opendoor

I don't think that's representative of the wider population, so you can't really draw prevalence estimates from it. Omicron is pretty trivial to detect even without genomic sequencing because it'll show an S-gene dropout in the PCR test (similar to B.1.1.7, but that barely exists anymore). So unless there are a massive number of S-gene dropouts appearing on PCR tests (I'd assume not based on everything I've read), then it likely hasn't spread all that much yet.

I had read that about the S drop but 10% positivity when South Africa has minimal other Covid is an outlier case. So that doesn’t make much sense either. Although if it were a tour group that was exposed maybe then you get to these types of numbers.

[Fuzz]

And it's now in Canada...

There are two confirmed cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Ottawa, the Ontario government announced Sunday.

"Today, the province of Ontario has confirmed two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Ottawa, both of which were reported in individuals with recent travel from Nigeria. Ottawa Public Health is conducting case and contact management and the patients are in isolation," the statement said.

The news comes after Canada implemented a ban on foreign nationals travelling to Canada who had been to certain countries in southern Africa over the preceding two weeks. That ban went into effect on Friday. The omicron variant was first identified by South African researchers and has provoked global concern.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/omi...265927?cmp=rss

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

And it's now in Canada...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/omi...265927?cmp=rss

It's everywhere, with over 1100 international flights per day it's impossible it isn't.

[Azure]

Pretty much. Zero chance this isn't in every single province already.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Slava

It's actually quite irritating, because the experts have been pretty forthright in saying the vaccines are still effective, and we shouldn't be closing travel or things like that. Governments are fighting the last war though, and doing what should've been done in early 2020.

And really, the information from the South African health minister (?), seems to indicate no reason to panic at this point. The narrative being pushed is exact opposite though.

I think stopping travel from a hot spot with a concerning variant is warranted. Look at those Netherlands flights where 10% of the passengers tested positive despite requiring vaccination or a recent negative test.

Will it keep it out? No, of course not. But with exponential growth, every imported case you add early on has huge implications down the line. Assuming a 2 week doubling period, having say, 10 imported cases to start buys you 1.5-2 months of time vs. importing 100 cases.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Azure

Someone needs to update public health.

My parents are both double vaccinated, plus both have had COVID, and my sister tested positive on a PCR test on Tuesday the 23rd, and now she needs to self isolate till Dec 7, and my parents needs to self isolate 14 MORE days starting Dec 7 which brings them to Dec 21. My sister had minor symptoms, but is mostly over them and my parents are fine.

Someone missed the boat, because I've gone through the self isolation before due to being a close contact, and I never remember it being like that and this was before the vaccine was available.

I thought it was start counting the day of exposure for 14 days. That is what I did.

I tested positive for covid, despite being vaccinated, and these are very different instructions than what I was given.

I have to isolate for ten days from the start of symptoms. Anyone who is vaccinated in my home does not have to isolate unless they show symptoms. They specifically said my partner could leave the home, as she is vaccinated. My baby, who is not vaccinated, must isolate with me.

I'm on day 5 post first symptom. The fatigue was the worst symptom by far, but starting to feel better now.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by blankall

I tested positive for covid, despite being vaccinated, and these are very different instructions than what I was given.

I have to isolate for ten days from the start of symptoms. Anyone who is vaccinated in my home does not have to isolate unless they show symptoms. They specifically said my partner could leave the home, as she is vaccinated. My baby, who is not vaccinated, must isolate with me.

I'm on day 5 post first symptom. The fatigue was the worst symptom by far, but starting to feel better now.

Get better soon!

[Jay's Beagle]

We are starting to see employees test positive again. We had a stretch where our covid tracker was getting pretty dang dusty.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

High infection plus low virulence seems like a potentially beneficial - if everyone got it, had minimal symptoms, and then had better immunity for more dangerous variants.

Didn't we play this game already?

[OldDutch]

I was at a Las Vegas event 3 weeks back, there were about 2000 people. Of which 1% were wearing a mask. So basically me and a few others. It was a martial arts event so lots of alpha males.

Whole time thought it would be a mass infection event, but no one caught COVID that I know of.

Gave me a bit of perspective. That its not as bad as media is hyping, yet I should still do my part to protect myself and family.

I did catch a nasty cold however. Sounds similar to BlankAll symptoms, but tested twice negative.

My point is I am tapped out on the fear part of this. Going to live my life and use precautions. All I can do. My mental health is really starting to suffer if I keep hiding inside.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Get better soon!

Woke up feeling a lot better. My symptoms, overall, were not as bad as my post vaccine symptoms. 2 days of extremely minor cough. 2.5 days of fatigue/soreness. Now feeling 90% better.

Loss of appetite and fatigue were the worst symptoms. Lost a couple pounds, as I had no desire to eat at all.

Unfortunately my four month old daughter has caught it too. She has a mild fever and is a bit cranky and congested. She likely has some immunity, as my partner received her first dose while 7 months pregnant, and the second does while breastfeeding.

We're monitoring the baby pretty closely and will seek medical attention the moment we see any respiratory issues or elevated fever.

I had double AZ. My partner had double Pfizer.

[Macman]

It does appear that it's people that are refusing to get vaccinated that are largely the issue at this point. We're 6-7 months now with vaccine availability and the vast majority of people getting hospitalized and dying still are unvaccinated.

It's not hard to see or debate anymore.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

It's everywhere, with over 1100 international flights per day it's impossible it isn't.

Originally Posted by Azure

Pretty much. Zero chance this isn't in every single province already.

Unscheduled provincial briefing today, I'm assuming they are announcing Omicron here in Alberta.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1465352213270831106

[blankall]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I was at a Las Vegas event 3 weeks back, there were about 2000 people. Of which 1% were wearing a mask. So basically me and a few others. It was a martial arts event so lots of alpha males.

Whole time thought it would be a mass infection event, but no one caught COVID that I know of.

Gave me a bit of perspective. That its not as bad as media is hyping, yet I should still do my part to protect myself and family.

I did catch a nasty cold however. Sounds similar to BlankAll symptoms, but tested twice negative.

My point is I am tapped out on the fear part of this. Going to live my life and use precautions. All I can do. My mental health is really starting to suffer if I keep hiding inside.

At a certain point you need to start living again. Variants are only getting more and more contagious. Covid isn't going anywhere, and total immunity via vaccination only lasts a few months. We all need to accept that we will all be exposed.

Obviously get your vaccinations to vastly minimize the odds of severe infection. But post-vaccination the odds of someone who has no pre-existing comorbities of getting severe illness are extremely low. Like you're more likely to die in a car accident on the way to your trip, then die from covid low.

I will admit that a couple days ago, a few days into my own covid infection, I was starting to get a little scared. After two days of fatigue, the fear of getting some kind of long covid was growing.....but then I just got better. Yeah vaccines.

I also think a lot of people in the USA have stopped reporting covid infections. So there may have been more transmissions at your event than you know about.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by blankall

I tested positive for covid, despite being vaccinated, and these are very different instructions than what I was given.

I have to isolate for ten days from the start of symptoms. Anyone who is vaccinated in my home does not have to isolate unless they show symptoms. They specifically said my partner could leave the home, as she is vaccinated. My baby, who is not vaccinated, must isolate with me.

I'm on day 5 post first symptom. The fatigue was the worst symptom by far, but starting to feel better now.

You're in BC, no?

I'm in Manitoba, and it looks like the rules are different all across the country.

Manitoba is still heavy on the 'make sure you disinfect all surfaces' stupidity, so I can't imagine they'll stay on top of the isolation rules, and how it works 1.5 years later.

From talking to friends, because of the stupidity of their rules, people are opting for rapid testing, and completely avoiding PCR testing and the subsequent daily phone calls telling you how your life hangs in the balance despite being double vaccinated and not feeling a thing.

[BoLevi]

Originally Posted by Macman

It does appear that it's people that are refusing to get vaccinated that are largely the issue at this point. We're 6-7 months now with vaccine availability and the vast majority of people getting hospitalized and dying still are unvaccinated.

It's not hard to see or debate anymore.

Yes, transmissions reduction policies are now more damaging than beneficial.

Strategies around vaccination and limiting hospital burdens through restrictiove access policies are the only effective way forward.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Azure

You're in BC, no?

I'm in Manitoba, and it looks like the rules are different all across the country.

Manitoba is still heavy on the 'make sure you disinfect all surfaces' stupidity, so I can't imagine they'll stay on top of the isolation rules, and how it works 1.5 years later.

From talking to friends, because of the stupidity of their rules, people are opting for rapid testing, and completely avoiding PCR testing and the subsequent daily phone calls telling you how your life hangs in the balance despite being double vaccinated and not feeling a thing.

Huh. Didn't realize that different provinces had different protocols. I did get a call from both BC Health Services and Health Canada, who gave me instructions, but they must also be giving those instructions based on provincial rules.

14 days of isolation for someone with no symptoms and a possibly negative pcr test does seem pretty extreme.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I was at a Las Vegas event 3 weeks back, there were about 2000 people. Of which 1% were wearing a mask. So basically me and a few others. It was a martial arts event so lots of alpha males.

Whole time thought it would be a mass infection event, but no one caught COVID that I know of.

Gave me a bit of perspective. That its not as bad as media is hyping, yet I should still do my part to protect myself and family.

I did catch a nasty cold however. Sounds similar to BlankAll symptoms, but tested twice negative.

My point is I am tapped out on the fear part of this. Going to live my life and use precautions. All I can do. My mental health is really starting to suffer if I keep hiding inside.

As bad as the media is hyping? They're mostly just reporting actual infection numbers and hospitalization stats. It is still really bad, that's not fear mongering.

But you're right about the second part, all you can do is live your life with the appropriate precautions.