Really worrying about this new variant. The UK Government has done the right thing with the red list.

 

Weird that its another variant that started in South Africa, I assume that it just because the scientists there seem do a particularly good job of search for virus variants.

Wow the whole world has basically Red listed South Africa now overnight off the back of a 'discovery of a new variant' that hasn't been tested fully by WHO. Well done Boris Johnson on taking the lead in making sure that every other nation imposed travel restrictions. I hope he will contribute to feeding the families and paying rent of those in the Tourism industry who are now very likely to lose their jobs and livelihoods AGAIN.

 

This is truly devastating and heartbreaking. Just when you think life IS finally back to normal, NO :angry: :banghead: :cry:

I'm not surprised they were so quick to red list this time tbf given how much criticism they got for not doing so with India earlier in the year.

 

Not that I'm agreeing to it at all, for what it's worth I don't think banning flights does much at all really (apart from 'good PR'). And as we now know it's too late anyway if it's already in other continents. Also means countries won't want to share anything about future new variants when this is what happens (like good ol' UK last year with Alpha).

 

And on your last point I don't think it'll ever be back to 'normal' until everyone everywhere pretty much universally agrees to treat it as endemic, which... doesn't look likely :nocheer:

Edited November 26, 20213 yr by Dobbo.

It is a damned if they do and damned if they don't.

 

Unfortunately in a capitalist society, media depends upon clicks to generate revenue hence a headline of "OMG NEW KILLER VARIANT. GOING TO DIE' - is going to get more attention then something more measured.

This could've been prevented with more help and vaccines given to poorer countries by the wealthier ones and not cutting foreign aid, if/when it starts spreading widely, they can't say they weren't warned. Especially as shortages were reported last month.

 

(Also 'Nu'? I can't stop thinking of Nu-Metal when hearing that! :'))

 

 

 

Wow the whole world has basically Red listed South Africa now overnight off the back of a 'discovery of a new variant' that hasn't been tested fully by WHO. Well done Boris Johnson on taking the lead in making sure that every other nation imposed travel restrictions. I hope he will contribute to feeding the families and paying rent of those in the Tourism industry who are now very likely to lose their jobs and livelihoods AGAIN.

 

This is truly devastating and heartbreaking. Just when you think life IS finally back to normal, NO :angry: :banghead: :cry:

 

And of course it's the worst variant ever and 1000x times more deadly than anything we have seen before because the media says so thousand times a day.

It is a damned if they do and damned if they don't.

 

Unfortunately in a capitalist society, media depends upon clicks to generate revenue hence a headline of "OMG NEW KILLER VARIANT. GOING TO DIE' - is going to get more attention then something more measured.

 

It could even be less lethal than the Delta variant. I think the noise coming out of SA at the moment is that the reaction is very mild. I don't know, I am just very sceptical that a mutation could fully avoid the vaccines. And plus, surely if it is more transmissable, it would be less lethal? All pure guess work at the moment, but we should also remember we are right in the middle of a 4th wave across Europe and we're not even in to the depths of winter yet..

Has the first media talking head suggested we go into another full lockdown yet?

And of course it's the worst variant ever and 1000x times more deadly than anything we have seen before because the media says so thousand times a day.

 

That statement is half true though, judging by what the scientists are saying, it is highly likely the worst variant we've seen so far in terms of transmission and vaccine efficacy reduction, because of the amount of mutations there are in the spike protein and also how recently it has been found, as viruses generally evolve to try and evade immune systems over time. As for being more deadly we don't know yet, but it does seem likely it would be because of the probable increased transmission and vaccine efficacy reduction.

 

It's better to be realistic than to be over-hopeful with guessing what this new variant means, and our responses to it.

Edited November 26, 20213 yr by 30 Spells Snakey

Scientists are literally basing themselves on a handful of cases. Nothing can be said yet. HOWEVER South African Health experts have claimed the cases they've seen so far are very mild

Theres too many unknowns at the moment to really get too worried. Just take your vaccine and a booster if you’re eligible/offered, wear a mask indoors and in crowded spaces and basically just dae be a stupid prick and you’ll be fine

Not again with this "South African variant" nonsense 😭😭 Our economy and especially my industry cannot survive a second successive December/new year season without tourists FML!

 

I do agree with you in that the Omicron variant as it is now known, may not have started in South Africa, and that they just discovered it there because the scientists there are doing a very good job of testing for variants compared to some other countries!

 

I know South Africa had a late start to its vaccination program though because they changed the vaccine they wanted to receive because of efficacy levels vs the first South African variant.

I'm just beyond done with all the constant media hyperbole about it, can't be doing with the return of idiotic panic buying etc...

I can’t be bothered seeing my parents this weekend with this news, they’ll be unbearable.

Really worrying about this new variant. The UK Government has done the right thing with the red list.

 

Weird that its another variant that started in South Africa, I assume that it just because the scientists seem to test well for virus variants there.

 

The government have at least put a ban on flights but it will probably already be too late and they also need to do more to bring down infection levels in this country. There was always a risk of a new variant developing with cases so high and relying solely on the vaccine without any other measures is pretty poor. Time will tell whether we require a new lockdown. We are in a better position somewhat than last year due to people being vaccinated but it will depend on whether cases continue to rise, deaths and impact on NHS. We certainly haven’t seen the end of the pandemic.

We won't be put in another lockdown. The government know it would lead to the worst civil unrest in a generation.

 

There'll just be mass media messaging which most people will ignore and carry on doing what they've been doing anyway for the past year

 

Edited November 26, 20213 yr by chartfridays

@1464327805836083201

Belgian authorities saying their case was imported by a traveller who visited Egypt via Turkey. So this appears to already be well beyond Southern Africa

Two cases of the new variant found in the UK...

 

It’s quite worrying that cases have already been discovered here. Let’s hope this doesn’t develop further as we could potentially be pushed back into another lockdown which would be disasterous.