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?

I think it’s possibly becoming dominant in one state of SA, and COVID rates there have recently been very low. Therefore we don’t yet know if it will out-compete delta.

I live in SA. Today there was a parliamentarian meeting … (brought forward from the normal one tomorrow). Talk of new regulations in the next few days.. have a look at news24 for info.

1. This is the first we’ve heard of it. (Apart from a brief mention in DM yesterday).
2. There a raised infections in Limpopo, Gauteng and Northern Province.
3. Only 6 known cases in SA of the new variant.
4. We are level 1… live pretty normally. Masks are, and always have been compulsory, social distancing (sort of), less numbers at large gatherings.. curfew 12am-4am.

It’s all a massive fuckup!!!! If they lock us out of boarders again….

"We estimate that 90% of the cases in Gauteng (at least 1000 a day are this variant, due to qPCR proxy testing)":

twitter.com/Tuliodna/status/1463911554538160130

Well that’s not very good that we all have to go to Twitter to find out about the state of the country! As I said in ‘normal’ news we’ve heard nothing!! Thank you for the link

I found this thread helpful twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1463885539619311616?s=21

Ah, we can rely on the Guardian as well as Twitter, they were reporting earlier about possibly 90% of cases in Gauteng being the new variant.

I want to go home!!!!! (UK)! See my father in law, spread my mother in laws ashes…

@SaintCharlie

Well that’s not very good that we all have to go to Twitter to find out about the state of the country! As I said in ‘normal’ news we’ve heard nothing!! Thank you for the link

Saint, it's been widespread news today. Go have a look at Mandy Weiner's fb page.

There are 22 confirmed cases in SA as of this afternoon.

I too will be mortified if the borders are closed again. I know of so many people due to travel overseas.

@idontlikealdi there's 2,000 people less in hospital now then there was a few weeks ago. How is that like this time last year at all.....

[quote Chronicallymothering]I found this thread helpful twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1463885539619311616?s=21[/quote]
I would suggest to read up on info out of SA. I don't know who this Prof is, but misspelling the province names repeatedly is quite off putting.

isthismylifenow … unfortunately, as you may realise, I don’t have twitter, fb etc… I only came on here looking for advice about universities and saw this!

Yes, totally agree … I did have a slight thought to myself with the misspelling of Gauteng!

She’s a member of independent SAGE, and has been following the public information the SA government has been putting out about the strain.

It's quite serious, scientists are worried about it. I think we'll shut the borders with south African countries very soon.

Thread from John Burn-Murdoch
mobile.twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1463956686075580421

@itsnotrugby

It's quite serious, scientists are worried about it. I think we'll shut the borders with south African countries very soon.

"BREAKING: I understand South Africa will be placed on the U.K. red list due to the rise in cases of the “super variant”"

inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-scrambles-to-block-worst-ever-covid-variant-as-travellers-from-south-africa-urged-to-take-tests-1320497

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-new-b11529-variant-worst-one-weve-seen-so-far-say-uk-experts-12478737

Scary 😨

Yeah I'm not liking the look of this!

"Not another one, honestly I can't stand this"

BBC breaking news announces quarantine restrictions for some SA Countries.

Yep. Here it is.

Oh dear… hello lockdown, old friend

Let's hope it's not arrived here already. They seem to be trying to act pretty quickly so it must be fairly serious but hopefully the prompt action will help a little.

I'll stay away from Botswana then !