Coronavirus thread

[Karl Henning]

In essence, I'd say that the big story here, is how it has not been a big story.

Omicron subvariant now accounts for over half of all COVID-19 cases in New England, CDC says

By Martin Finucane, Daigo Fujiwara and Ryan Huddle Globe Staff,Updated March 22, 2022, 2 hours ago

The Omicron subvariant BA.2, which is believed to be one of the drivers of a COVID-19 resurgence in Europe, now accounts for more than half the new cases of COVID-19 in New England, according to estimates from the CDC.

BA.2 accounted for 55.4 percent of cases in New England as of Saturday, continuing to elbow out other varieties of Omicron.

Nationally, BA.2 has grown to account for 34.9 percent of cases, up from 1 percent as recently as early February, according to the CDC estimates.

The increases come as the region - and the nation - have seen steep declines from the Omicron surge early this year to much lower cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

But is this the calm before the storm? Experts and officials are eyeing increases in cases and hospitalizations in Europe warily, wondering if what is happening in Europe could happen here.

Three factors are seen as possible contributors to the rise of COVID-19 in Europe: the more-contagious BA.2 taking over from other subvariants of the virus; the reopening of society; and people's waning immunity from vaccination or prior infection. All three ingredients are present here in the United States, experts have said.

Some are acknowledging that there will be an impact from BA.2 but saying it won't be large. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and an adviser to President Biden is one of them. "The bottom line is we likely will see an uptick in cases, as we've seen in the European countries, particularly the U.K.," Fauci said Sunday on ABC-TV's "This Week." "Hopefully we won't see a surge. I don't think we will."

Experts say that people should prepare for BA.2′s arrival by making sure they're vaccinated and boosted.

"I still think the best thing you can probably do for yourself, if you haven't already had a booster, is you should go ahead and get one now," said Larissa Thackray, a virologist at Washington University in St. Louis.

A Massachusetts Department of Public Health spokeswoman said, "DPH reminds everyone that the best protection against COVID-19 and its variants is to get vaccinated and receive a booster when eligible. DPH also advises that people should stay isolated if they develop symptoms, arrange to get tested for COVID-19, and follow all isolation, quarantine and masking guidance as advised by DPH."

She also said residents should remember that "free treatment options are widely available to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19, including monoclonal antibody infusions and oral therapeutics."

The treatment is available for people who are at increased risk of severe illness, test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, she said.

[MusicTurner]

13 mio jabs here in DK have resulted in 20 acknowledged cases of damage to health.

[Karl Henning]

13 mio jabs here in DK have resulted in 20 acknowledged cases of damage to health.

Without at all minimizing empathy for those 20 souls, that looks like success overall.

[MusicTurner]

Without at all minimizing empathy for those 20 souls, that looks like success overall.

Yes, a very small amount of problems.

[Karl Henning]

Yet anoter reason why caution has been especially prudent through the pandemic (which is in retreat, but ain't over.)

How covid brain fog may overlap with 'chemo brain' and Alzheimer's

Researchers say the brain inflammation in long covid is similar to that in cancer patients

[Madiel]

Yet anoter reason why caution has been especially prudent through the pandemic (which is in retreat, but ain't over.)

How covid brain fog may overlap with 'chemo brain' and Alzheimer's

Researchers say the brain inflammation in long covid is similar to that in cancer patients

I can't read the article, but the headline doesn't entirely surprise me. There are various bits of evidence that this virus can impact and damage a huge range of tissues in the body, depending on where it gets to.

[Karl Henning]

In its first COVID-19 data report since Friday, Mass. reports 2,430 confirmed cases; 3 deaths reported on Friday

[71 dB]

My father, 83, will have his 4th Covid-19 vaccine next Friday.

So, the 4th shots have begun in Finland for people over 80 and those with compromised immunity.

[Madiel]

It will be similar here. The relevant Australian body has issued a recommendation of a booster as we head into winter, for people over 65 (or over 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander), residents of aged care and disability care, and people with compromised immunity.

[prémont]

My father, 83, will have his 4th Covid-19 vaccine next Friday.

So, the 4th shots have begun in Finland for people over 80 and those with compromised immunity.

I got my fourth jab February 18th, but was infected a week later.
Got through it without lasting problems though.

[Karl Henning]

I got my fourth jab February 18th, but was infected a week later.
Got through it without lasting problems though.

Very good to hear!

[71 dB]

Tomorrow nurses go on strike in Finland and my father is unsure if it will affect his 4th shot. Hopefully he is able to get it as planned. 

EDIT: My father got his 4th jab as planned. 

I got my fourth jab February 18th, but was infected a week later.
Got through it without lasting problems though.

Yeah, the vacciness don't "stop" Omicron, but fortunately make it a less severe ordeal. Good to hear you made it without lasting problems.  0:)

[Karl Henning]

Number of COVID-19 patients in US hospitals reaches record low

[TheGSMoeller]

Muti has covid, canceled tomorrow's show in Chicago.

[71 dB]

Number of COVID-19 patients in US hospitals reaches record low

Record low? Isn't that zero patients? That's how many Covid-19 patients there must have been before this pandemic started. 

Anyway, it is good news if the amount of patients is dropping. Finland has had record high number of  Covid-19 patients lately, but the amount of patients in intensive care is fortunately low. The number of cases is extremely high compared to 2020 and 2021 and also the number of corona deaths is very high, because all people who die having covid-19 virus are registered as corona victims even if they died for another reason than covid. The situation is almost funny: Statistically it is worse than ever (almost as if the pandemic really started this year thanks to Omicron), but in practice people live as if the pandemic is over. Nobody worries much about Covid-19 anymore, because some people never worried and those who did worry have taken their vaccines. Instead of Covid-19, people think about Ukraine and how Finland should join NATO yesterday. 

[Karl Henning]

Record low? Isn't that zero patients? That's how many Covid-19 patients there must have been before this pandemic started. 

Good catch, Poju!

[Szykneij]

My wife and I got our second booster shots (Moderna) this afternoon. I've had the Moderna shot all four times with no bad reactions. One of my wife's jabs was a Pfizer and that one gave her some unpleasant side effects. Hopefully, we'll both sleep well tonight.

[MusicTurner]

I got my fourth jab February 18th, but was infected a week later.
Got through it without lasting problems though.

That's good, glad to hear this.

[krummholz]

My wife and I got our second booster shots (Moderna) this afternoon. I've had the Moderna shot all four times with no bad reactions. One of my wife's jabs was a Pfizer and that one gave her some unpleasant side effects. Hopefully, we'll both sleep well tonight.

I had my second booster yesterday, as well. My first 3 shots were Pfizer, this time I had Moderna. Very similar reaction: sore arm, but nothing more. Otherwise, I feel fine. VERY different from the effect of the Shingrix vaccine, which packed quite a wallop.

[Que]

Omicron variant does cause different symptoms from Delta, study finds

For me personally this is rather old news, since I have experienced an Omicron infection myself three weeks ago. After the Dutch govt lifted all restrictions it was almost inevitable. Despite being fully vaccinated, an unpleasant experience and definitely not "just a flu". I'm still experiencing some lingering after effects, though progress is steady.

China is now overrun by Omicron. We should brace ourselves for the next variant in the fall. Hopefully it will be (even) weaker than Omicron, but scientists do seem cautious on that.