New Covid variant *title edited by MNHQ at OP's request*

[Wingingthis]

Can anyone talk some sense about how dangerous this is or is it just the media over exaggerating?

Yea she talks about travel restrictions. Which are completely sensible. In fact I think we should have done more and followed up everyone who arrived from South Africa or tested them all on arrival as per the Dutch.

She does not talk about any other restrictions being necessary at this time.

Yes I agree re testing travellers. If we find omicron we may need surge testing too. That sort of focussed intervention.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Superb post at 10.01, RedTooth Brush, though I don't know where the R36 has come from. I realise you were only quoting it, but I can't seem to find that anywhere so wonder if it's more competitive scaremongering from the lower reaches of SM

I think RedToothBrush might have misunderstood. In one of the Twitter threads that someone linked yesterday, the poster said that omicron might be 6 times as transmissible as delta but then clarified in a later tweet that he was talking about the effective R number (Re), not the basic R number (R0).

The R0 number for delta is around 5/6, so I think RedToothBrush took the tweet to mean omicron has an R) number of 36 (6x6). However, the poster meant that it is 6 times the effective R number of delta ie how many each infectious person infects on average at the current time. The Re for delta is much lower than its R0 because there are high levels of immunity.

Omicron doesn't need a higher R0 to outcompete delta, it just needs to have a higher Re.

It's here

I've just had a pop up saying there are two confirmed omicron cases in UK (Chelmsford and Nottingham)

Fuck.

Fuck it all.

Don’t panic it will be here

It still doesn’t mean the variables are bad

Can’t say I’m surprised it’s here unfortunately but 😫 oh no.

I know, but I was hoping to see travel and see family I have not seen for year for Christmas.

It seems unlikely now.

Oh I see it might be ok

I’m trying to as well

The expectation will have been that this variant was in Europe. We have very lax border control so I don’t think we can be very surprised cases have been found. The fight is now between Omicron and Delta. I’m sure my kids play that game on their Wii.

Thanks!

Press conference at 5

@lalahotpants where did you read this please?

Sky news

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-two-cases-of-omicron-variant-detected-in-uk-with-targeted-testing-to-be-rolled-out-in-affected-areas-12480213

The Saj is on Sky news just now saying that the PM is holding the news conference at 5pm to 'set out further measures.' I think it'll be a massive don't panic but get vaccinated push.

Targeted testing already mentioned

Fine with that

@TokyoSushi

The Saj is on Sky news just now saying that the PM is holding the news conference at 5pm to 'set out further measures.' I think it'll be a massive don't panic but get vaccinated push.

Or else he’ll blather on about Peppa Pig for 10 minutes.

www.unilad.co.uk/news/boris-johnson-to-hold-press-conference-as-two-cases-of-new-covid-variant-omicron-found-in-uk/?source=facebook

Come on Delta!

(Never thought I’d say that).

I’m currently on a train. Nobody is wearing a mask. So that’s the current mood... (not saying that is right btw but unexpected).

@FreeBritnee Maybe he's going to tell us about the episode where Peppa and George had a cold. It was a good one iirc, Doctor Bear did a home visit.

Which is another reason for Boris to like Peppa Pig World; it's the one remaining UK outpost where the Tories haven't managed to fuck the NHS.

I haven't been on public transport since the pandemic began. There are other options; we are lucky enough to have 2 cars.

People may be making other choices.

@TokyoSushi

The Saj is on Sky news just now saying that the PM is holding the news conference at 5pm to 'set out further measures.' I think it'll be a massive don't panic but get vaccinated push.

At the very least the fucker should tell people to wear masks. And no ridiculous fabric ones either.