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.

@Russianmax

That's another point I meant to raise - Prof Francoise Balloux has pointed out that there is a degree of genetic variation already within the B.1.1.529 lineage (i.e. the new variant lineage has already diversified).

This implies it's been around for 2-3 months, so the modelling that is partially driving the alarm here, which assumes that this variant was at 0% prevalence 2-3 weeks ago is likely to be wrong.

I'm extremely skeptical of this early estimate of its transmission advantage. Could also be selective testing going on due to the desire for more data.

We'll know more in a week or two, I suppose!

Let the bodies pile high as he reportedly said before he went and caught it. Good that's he's lost weight and gone with a fitness regimen if this variant jumps the shark. As he likes to say the mayor was the hero if jaws as he kept the beaches open

The infected patient was a young unvaccinated woman, who developed symptoms 11 days after going to Egypt, but has no links with South Africa or other high-risk countries.

I don’t think restrictions would be welcomed by most.

Hopefully not even needed though.

Covid bloody loves Bolton.

Hardly surprising given that less than 60% of the population in Bolton is fully vaccinated.

@MarshaBradyo

Still hoping you are right and Omnicron won't mean another lockdown, or any further restrictions. We will know in a couple of weeks.