'No reason to think Covid will become more virulent’/'It could be like common cold by Spring'

[GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr]

Some positive news from people who know what they're talking about this morning.

As far as the common cold claim is concerned, there was the caveat that we have to get through winter first (wouldn't fit on my screenshot but that's all that it said, no predictions of catastrophe or anything).

Yes I know there are still vulnerable people whom covid could affect badly (I'm one of them), but this is good news. Although I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell me it's not

I certainly like the line “we are over the worst”, I certainly hope so. I also think we are already there regarding colds, with so many having them with the same symptoms as covid, but not testing positive

Great to finally see a bit of positivity

Fab news if true and actually works out like this.

We'll only get to that point if we don't go all in and make futile attempts at suppression that will just prolong the time we get to that point..,, I'm thinking of the St Augustine of Canterbury High School in St Helens in the news for reintroducing strict Covid measures - way to go if you want Covid to still be a problem come exam season

@ShaneTheThird

Fab news if true and actually works out like this.

This is my thinking.

No guarantees of anything of course - however I am heartened and encouraged that it's two eminent experts making these statements, as opposed to Some Bloke On Twitter

Great to see. Thank the lord for the vaccines.

@TheKeatingFive

Great to see. Thank the lord for the vaccines.

A billion percent this. This coming winter may be difficult (though more due to rising fuel prices/UC cuts/food shortages than Covid, most likely) but it will be nothing like the awfulness of last winter, Because Vaccines. So many lives saved.

Really really good news. 👍

Very positive news

It is reassuring. Does less virulent mean less transmissible or less severe?

I definitely like the term 'over the worst'. Hoping that next year will definitely feel more normal than the last 2 years have been

I remember seeing a quote from Sarah Gilbert way back when the vaccine first went into human trials and early results were good, in which she said that it was highly unlikely that the virus could mutate enough to fully evade the vaccine, because then it would no longer be a coronavirus, and wouldn’t be able to bind to human cells. I’ve been going on about this ever since to general disbelief, so I’m glad to see her saying much the same thing again.

I’m sure our resident doom sayers will be along shortly to tell us why this world renowned vaccinologist is wrong.

@Warhertisuff

We'll only get to that point if we don't go all in and make futile attempts at suppression that will just prolong the time we get to that point..,, I'm thinking of the St Augustine of Canterbury High School in St Helens in the news for reintroducing strict Covid measures - way to go if you want Covid to still be a problem come exam season

This!

I remember seeing a quote from Sarah Gilbert way back when the vaccine first went into human trials and early results were good, in which she said that it was highly unlikely that the virus could mutate enough to fully evade the vaccine, because then it would no longer be a coronavirus

Francois Balloux says something similar, that vaccine evading mutation would only take place over a long period of time and bit by bit, in that there’d be plenty of lead time for updating and distribution of vaccines.

This is brilliant news 😀

Also in the news that cases, overall, are down 22% in a week.

Nice clever people agreeing with each other good to see ;

I’m happy to read that op

Well. Can I just say, today is my birthday but reading this has made my day more than anything else. Thank you for sharing!

Hooray! Please let it be true...

Good to hear some positive views ! Just waiting for the long covid brigade to chip in.

Pretty sure I saw the exact same article this time last year.

Pretty sure I saw the exact same article this time last year.

Course you did Nanny.

And of course nothing has changed since then, nothing at all.

@TheKeatingFive

I remember seeing a quote from Sarah Gilbert way back when the vaccine first went into human trials and early results were good, in which she said that it was highly unlikely that the virus could mutate enough to fully evade the vaccine, because then it would no longer be a coronavirus

Francois Balloux says something similar, that vaccine evading mutation would only take place over a long period of time and bit by bit, in that there’d be plenty of lead time for updating and distribution of vaccines.

Balloux doesn't exactly have the greatest track record.

Balloux doesn't exactly have the greatest track record.

He speaks plenty of sense as far as I can see.

I know you like them doomier though.

I'm always on the pessimistic side when it comes to covid, but seeing this news has really cheered me up I can't wait until life can be more normal for the vulnerable again