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?

Absolutely livid. I booked flights to SA almost a year ago for new year but didn’t bother planning or booking any hotels until I felt more comfortable that’s things looked clear.

I booked all my hotels this week. So I think it’s safe to say my hotel bookings induced this new variant and my version of Sod’s law is unfortunately universal - it effects us all!

@vera99

The conspirsloons will have a field day restrictions to infinity perpetual COVID war without end.

And the comfort blanket mask lovers will be having a party tonight 🍾🎉....

Still flights landing at Heathrow, all travel from affected areas should be banned immediately.

By the way, should we not be calling this the "gamma" variant or whatever letter we're up to?
I think the general rule now is, we shouldn't be using regional names to describe particular variants.

Think it’s called Nu ? Or maybe I misunderstood

@Dumpypumpy

Think it’s called Nu ? Or maybe I misunderstood

Its not officially Nu yet. WHO have an emergency meeting tomorrow about the variant. Its likely to get that name then.

I wonder how long before the panic buying starts.

Its fine. I'm stocked up already this time thanks.

@Wingingthis

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

John Campbell you tube has talked sense throughout the pandemic, he posts a video every day and is very knowledgeable, facts only and very measured.

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

On paper its a vicious mega beast which will savage us all.

In reality no one knows hows this actually works with any great certainity in the real world right now.

@RedToothBrush

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

On paper its a vicious mega beast which will savage us all.

In reality no one knows hows this actually works with any great certainity in the real world right now.

They say it will take 2-8 weeks to figure that out.

NuVarient sounds like some kind of hair vitamin tonic that your MML BossBabe friend keeps messaging you about on Facebook.

Following for the updates.

@SaintCharlie

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….

The BBC reported late evening (in the UK) that South African Scientists studying this new variant have concluded that it is extremely transmissible and from 56 cases a few days ago, they are already at 1000 cases a day.

I blame myself. I just re-booked a trip to South Africa (4th attempt to get there since the start of the pandemic). Each time I book it, all hell breaks loose 🙄 Seriously though, let’s hope this is false alarm and we find that the existing vaccines give good protection against this one.

@ManyMaybes

Absolutely livid. I booked flights to SA almost a year ago for new year but didn’t bother planning or booking any hotels until I felt more comfortable that’s things looked clear.

I booked all my hotels this week. So I think it’s safe to say my hotel bookings induced this new variant and my version of Sod’s law is unfortunately universal - it effects us all!

Ahh, not just me then 🙄

@ManyMaybes

Absolutely livid. I booked flights to SA almost a year ago for new year but didn’t bother planning or booking any hotels until I felt more comfortable that’s things looked clear.

I booked all my hotels this week. So I think it’s safe to say my hotel bookings induced this new variant and my version of Sod’s law is unfortunately universal - it effects us all!

I blame you entirely @ManyMaybes

🤞 once again that there's a way out / round. I have faith in an adapted vaccine if that's what it takes.

Obviously no trade deal on the table with how quickly they’ve stopped flights this time

This one looks like the real deal.

@Sally090807 as it’s a 11 hour flight from Southern Africa it’s not easy to immediately stop flights. Some would not have enough fuel to turn round and return to their destination.

Saffers are shocked and devastated at this news. So many people I know are due to fly out shortly. We have not long been taken off the red list so many families have used this holiday season to travel to see family.

Obvs I see why flights have been banned, but it's only to UK.

What a shit storm.

[quote BunsyGirl]@Sally090807 as it’s a 11 hour flight from Southern Africa it’s not easy to immediately stop flights. Some would not have enough fuel to turn round and return to their destination.[/quote]
Banned from 12pm today, for these very reasons I'm sure. The majority of direct flights out leave in the evening.

Very informed thread here about the likely effects of this variant:

twitter.com/jbloom_lab/status/1464005676842184705

Another account worth bookmarking for reliable information and layman's explanations is:

twitter.com/sailorrooscout

The government being quick to act about flights from SA doesn't really mean much, would they have been so quick to ban flights from a European country or somewhere they want to do a trade deal with - probably not.

Sailorooscout says:

"From this it is likely we won't see Nu full nAbs escape from vaccines and likely barely any issues with severe disease. Which is encouraging. This thread also shows it likely won’t outcompete Delta. Needed this."

Which sounds good even if I don't know what nAbs means.

@Heyvedge

The government being quick to act about flights from SA doesn't really mean much, would they have been so quick to ban flights from a European country or somewhere they want to do a trade deal with - probably not.

Let's not be cyncial, eh!

Although Balloux is cautious about closing borders because it will discourage countries from doing the right thing in being open about identifying and publicising variants like Botswana and South Africa have done:

twitter.com/BallouxFrancois/status/1464036948239171593