Omicron found in the UK [title edited by MNHQ]

[manolantern]

Health Secretary has just said two cases have been found here. That was quick!

@Tuba437

Did I hear that there isn't a single case of hospitalisation with this variant... could be what had been predicted before that a super transmissible variant with much less severe illness... this would be the best outcome be honest.

Hope so

I wonder how many cases in total so far

Plan b is mandatory mask wearing isnt it ? .
Don't think it's much else
I don't anticipate Boris in his news conference will be implementing plan b . I think he will push the vaccination program and booster vaccine and possibly boosting for the under 40's to be pushed through

I'd like to see data on whether there have been any hospitalisations and deaths with this variant, not seen any stats relating to that just yet. Also find it weird that the three vaccine companies are looking at the vaccine and think they can tweak it yet not seen or heard any thoughts on that in regards to delta when that was first discovered.

Part of me wonders whether this fits the government agenda to get us all wearing masks ( I haven't stopped) and social distancing of our own accord before they try to enforce it.

Could scientists manafacture a mutation of covid which was super infectious but non fatal?

There was a Rugby Match between South Africa and England in Twickenham on the 20th November. Possibly that could lead to a spread of this variant.

I think that we need to proceed with a bit of caution until they knw more about it- decent quality masks etc. However I am trying not to worry about it. There is not a lot I can do apart from being sensible really.

Like a compulsory vaccine ?

@Kayjay2018

I'd like to see data on whether there have been any hospitalisations and deaths with this variant, not seen any stats relating to that just yet. Also find it weird that the three vaccine companies are looking at the vaccine and think they can tweak it yet not seen or heard any thoughts on that in regards to delta when that was first discovered.

Part of me wonders whether this fits the government agenda to get us all wearing masks ( I haven't stopped) and social distancing of our own accord before they try to enforce it.

This variant has only been detected for a few weeks. They don't know yet.

Hunter, Semple, Pollard sounding positive about protection from vaccine

Not certain though

@DevilishlyEvil

Could scientists manafacture a mutation of covid which was super infectious but non fatal?

Delta is very infectious but non fatal

Still a huge problem - when virtually everyone is infected, a tiny proportion of deaths/illness are still a big problem

@madroid

Plan B anyone?

It was inevitable. We just need to know whether higher transmissibility (SA cases quadrupled in 2 weeks) goes with higher fatality (numerous spike mutations might mean the vaccines don't work/work as effectively)

They are very poorly vaccinated. Just to bear that in mind. Transmission would be higher.

@Kayjay2018

I'd like to see data on whether there have been any hospitalisations and deaths with this variant, not seen any stats relating to that just yet. Also find it weird that the three vaccine companies are looking at the vaccine and think they can tweak it yet not seen or heard any thoughts on that in regards to delta when that was first discovered.

Part of me wonders whether this fits the government agenda to get us all wearing masks ( I haven't stopped) and social distancing of our own accord before they try to enforce it.

Not really - I imagine the relative cost/benefit (not just financial) of designing a new vaccine for delta was found to not be justified - vaccine efficacy was still relatively good

@Theplantisgrowing

I don't care if I have to have a vaccine every 3 months for the rest of my life if it means we can all get back to proper living.

Neither do I.

I think wearing masks indoors, including on all forms of public transport would be reasonable response.

Because we're not likely to find out whether the variant produces more severe disease for another week or so (at the earliest) so it's a case of whether it's worth taking a precautionary approach. If the disease is much the same, then we can roll it back a bit. But if it's wiporse that's a genie we don't want to try tomstuff back into the bottle

The joys of globalisation can't we go back to the smaller hassle free world of less international travel? It will be better for the environment too. Unfortunately we cannot carry on as normal as we need to protect the NHS. So we either carry on and refuse to treat covid and accept the death of venerable people (including the overweight) Or we significantly give up freedoms again to control the virus. I actually don't mind either however I don't think we can do both.

My dad had Asian influenza in the 60s. He nearly died with it apparently ( before I was born )
He asked a doctor about it and his reply was ' the jet plane will bring us so many more infections and virus's' He wasn't wrong there and this was when international travel wasn't as it is now ( or was pre covid )

Why did they name if Omnircrom?

No cases found yet in Ireland but a see a noticeable change in behaviour where I live. We have to wear masks indoors and everyone does. But I just went to the nearest (very small) town and everyone outside on the street was also masked (even small children), I have not seen that level of outdoor mask-wearing before today.

It's a letter in the Greek alphabet

@Russianmax

Why did they name if Omnircrom?

No idea but I'm actually 100% certain it was first called the Botswana variant .. I'm absolutely positive, I dont know what the namechanges are all about

@FMSucks

I was talking to a close family friend who lives in SA. This variant was apparently found through a blood test due to SA’s highly developed genomic sequencing. It was not found through a PCR test.

I was also watching the news earlier and a GP from SA was being interviewed. She said while there are more cases they are very mild, symptoms are very mild and no one in her practice has needed to be hospitalised.

If anyone even remotely thinks this variant started in SA they are completely deluded and all this mass hysteria (and I include Governments in this) is going to do is ensure that any country who happens to come across a new variant will keep their mouths well and truly shut.

This might be sheer coincidence, but I was chatting last Saturday to a woman who was telling me all about her recent trip to SA to see family and how wonderful it was to see family after all this time etc etc.

On Tuesday, I felt a bit meh. Not ill, but a bit achy and tired so went to bed early. Wednesday woke up with a slight dry cough and realised my sense of smell/taste was off. LFT immediately positive. PCR done on Thursday - still awaiting result! Self isolating until 5/12.

Have felt absolutely 100% since Thursday, apart from smell and taste so I’ve hopefully got a very, very mild version but I’m now wondering if there might be a connection.

Just wondered why they chose that particular Greek letter?

The word “frothing” has been so overused on MN that I now just glaze over at posts containing it.

I don’t want any more lockdowns. Nor do I want my/any hospital stuffed to the gills with people with Covid. Rock and a hard place. At the moment, we don’t know how severe it is if infected - until then, taking personal precautions won’t do any harm.

'SA virology facilities are some of the best in the world. Just because they found it there does not mean it's necessarily come from there. It just means they found and sequenced it first.'

👆🏼This! And yes, people are saying differently. I don't understand how, after two years of a pandemic!

@Russianmax

Just wondered why they chose that particular Greek letter?

We have lambda.

Nu and xi were skipped, maybe because they would be confusing.

Omicron is the next letter.