Here we go again......

[isthismylifenow]

possible new variant

In South Africa. Variant B1.1.529. Health minister here holding a briefing this afternoon.

We have had a sharp uptake in cases in the last few days.

People not happy saying it is a plot to scarper Christmas plans.

I don't think I am ready for all this again. We have had very few cases the last few months. It was nice getting some form of normality back.

@isthismylifenow - we've had very few cases these last few months.... really?

We had very few cases where I am for a while and now it seems more people have Covid than not. It has just ripped through the schools (primary and secondary) here.

[quote luckylavender]@isthismylifenow - we've had very few cases these last few months.... really? [/quote]
we've had very few cases these last few months.... really

Yes, I am in SA. Less than 100 cases a day. Until now.

Out of interest, why do people think the Government would want to lockdown over Christmas? I can see no benefit to them doing this?....

@ZippyZap

Out of interest, why do people think the Government would want to lockdown over Christmas? I can see no benefit to them doing this?....

Lockdowns in UK (England especially) have always been the very last resort with the government leaving it too late, so it's the last thing they'd want to do.

So we have 22 confirmed cases of the new variant.

Urgent meeting taking place with WHO and the new variant will be given a Greek name.

Genomes produced at KRISP and NICD support the new variant to be concerning

@ZippyZap

Out of interest, why do people think the Government would want to lockdown over Christmas? I can see no benefit to them doing this?....

Absolutely. I never understand why people say this. Boris clearly hates restrictions.

OP is in South Africa - I assume they are referring to the South African Government.

@ZippyZap

Out of interest, why do people think the Government would want to lockdown over Christmas? I can see no benefit to them doing this?....

It is the main holidays for the year, the schools are closed for 5 weeks and there will be a lot of movement of people.

We also have strict curfews and alcohol sales are restricted on our higher level lockdowns. Hence people being mighty upset at the thought of it over the holiday season.

I did not know it had reached the UK, bugger.

I don't think it has - OP is in South Africa

@saltedcaramel1 OP is in South Africa. Don't think it's in U.K... yet. But totally take your point. With no red list or enforced quarantine it will likely spread like Delta IF transmissibility allows.

Not there yet though so 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh thanks for clarifying- that is good news only in three countries, hopefully it will be contained.

Have reported my post to avoid anyone else getting confuse :)

Apologies for the confusion. I am in South Africa and this new variant has been picked up here, Botswana and Hong Kong.

Post briefing

@saltedcaramel1

Oh thanks for clarifying- that is good news only in three countries, hopefully it will be contained.

It cannot be contained. There is no mechanism for containment. It is in 3 countries already.

There's a good summary of it here too:

mobile.twitter.com/miamalan/status/1463846528578109444

I tried to spot this in a report elsewhere but I’d quite like to know what time period these cases have been identified in. Was it over days/weeks/months?

Useful thread here

twitter.com/firefoxx66/status/1463797898446049285?s=21

It cannot be contained. There is no mechanism for containment. It is in 3 countries already.

Easy there @Haffiana

If it isn't that transmissible it can easily be outcompeted by delta and fizzle out.

As it’s spreading so quickly in one state then it’s hardly less transmissible….

I think the person who travelled from SA to HK tested positive in quarantine so might not have spread it to anyone else there.

@JanglyBeads

As it’s spreading so quickly in one state then it’s hardly less transmissible….

I wouldn't take that as definitive proof that is going to outcompete delta and become the dominant strain.

I am however ~12 hours behind the news so for all I know we might have a plague of locusts rolling in. I need to catch up properly.

@JanglyBeads

As it’s spreading so quickly in one state then it’s hardly less transmissible….

The question I would ask is that is it spreading quickly in countries with low case numbers? Because (ironically), in places where delta has taken hold, it is more likely to fizzle out as harder to compete.

But like I said, have been busy and literally know nothing so will stop babbling!

If you read the Twitter links posted above you will catch up olly!