If omicron symptoms are so mild

[Mistletoeandwhineing]

To not understand what the panic is about?

Have been watching regular updates from Dr John Campbell, very level headed and knowledgeable. Current evidence seems to be looking very positive. I realise we need to wait a little longer to be sure, but overall it’s looking to be very mild and possibly actually a good thing for immunity. Or am I wrong?
Feel like I’m living in a parallel universe

I don't understand it either. Feel.like something else is afoot, but I can't trust this government so who knows what's going on and what the truth is about anything anymore..

At the moment the biggest worry is that we just don’t know, patients are starting to be admitted to hospital now so it’s going to start showing more that side of things

But if it’s more transmissible then even if a smaller % get seriously Ill it could still pose a massive threat to the NHS if more people become infected

I think it’s more the sheer volume of the thing. If it’s doubling every 2 to 3 days (which is crazy) that means most of the population could have it within a month and a small proportion of a massive number would need hospital treatment (in addition to the usual running hot capacity)

It’s more infectious so it could be a massive problem if it takes down most of the country at once.

I'm no expert but inclined to think along the same lines as you.

It's probably more complex but I think it might be a numbers game? It is mild but very transferable. So whilst mild for most people, a small percentage of those infected will need hospital treatment. But a small percentage of a huge infected population is a lot of people. So a lot of pressure on the NHS.

Because millions of people need boosted as theyre out of antibodies or too long since second jab

And that means thousands going to go in to hospital

The problem is that 1. it's very transmissible 2. We don't know much about it. If it evades vaccines to a significant extent then even a much smaller proportion of a big number ending up in hospital is a problem.

So, vaccinated population of 100 catches Delta and 5% are in hospital, 5 people; vaccinated population of 1000 catch omicron and 2% are in hospital, 20 people. Thats why they acted relatively early for once.

I know we are allhoping it turns out to be much milder and it's effectively the end of the pandemic. We just don't know yet.

Yep it's the volume. Everyone getting sick at the same time doesn't just impact hospitals. It impacts the country being able to run. From emergency services, supply chains, transportation, utilities.

@LaurieFairyCake

Because millions of people need boosted as theyre out of antibodies or too long since second jab

And that means thousands going to go in to hospital

Not necessarily as it may be a milder illness. We just dont know. Hence the caution.

Because if its as transmissable as it appears to be, even if its milder than Alpha/Delta (as appears to be the case), and a lot of people get exposed to it, even if a smaller proportion of people get seriously unwell, you're still looking at potentially a large number of people in hospital at the height of the winter season.

Plus you have to factor in that a large number of people were dosed with AZ which gives you only marginally better than no protection, and many of those have seen the immunity from that jab decline. So a lot of people have next to no immunity to Omicron.

I do think it is the catchiness of it, the r rate is around 4 apparently, the more people with weak immune systems who receive it the more chance that a virus is alive, mutating and spreading, so more chance of a ultra spreader with more symptoms developing and communicating across the population.

Ie where a virus is able to stay in one host the more mutations.

What panic? Can we just have a discussion without the hyperbole?

Every mutation is a stepping stone, not an end in itself. Each mutation creates new risks for future mutations.
This one is highly transmissable. We dont want a new strain that also has a high mortality rate.

If omicrom is milder (let’s say half the % needing to go to hospital) but much more contagious (let’s say four times as many people catch it) then a higher overall number of people would be in hospital with it.

Even if it's a milder illness why would it be the end kf the pandemic? My understandong is each time it mutates it may be milder ot worse.

@thepeopleversuswork

Because if its as transmissable as it appears to be, even if its milder than Alpha/Delta (as appears to be the case), and a lot of people get exposed to it, even if a smaller proportion of people get seriously unwell, you're still looking at potentially a large number of people in hospital at the height of the winter season.

Plus you have to factor in that a large number of people were dosed with AZ which gives you only marginally better than no protection, and many of those have seen the immunity from that jab decline. So a lot of people have next to no immunity to Omicron.

Again that's sensationalist reporting from the media. We don't know yet. AZ might still offering protection from the worst affects of covid. Font believe the paper headlines.

Don't

@StealthPolarBear

Even if it's a milder illness why would it be the end kf the pandemic? My understandong is each time it mutates it may be milder ot worse.

Because once the dominant strain is a milder illness it can join the common cold viruses and we can crack on again.

Dare I say it but the NHS has been very successful and kept a lot of people alive well beyond what might be considered natural. I personally think the government are scared of these people succumbing to the Omicrom. Most of our data is coming from South Africa where the average age is much lower.

But so far I’m sure there haven’t been any deaths or bad illness reported, am I right (please correct me if wrong, just trying to understand this) and weren’t people first infected in November in SA? Are they preparing for deaths or just completely erring on the side of caution?
Plus, IF it does end up being very mild, but highly transmissible, could that mean the end of vaccinations etc and immunity for all?
There have been rumours of a lockdown in January, but how could they possibly know that

Go to the corona virus page, under health section.
It's being spoken about in much more depth and sense.

If its mild the majority of people will be fine, if you are vulnerable the take further precautions that way out people can get back to normal

That makes no sense. Who says it only mutates in one direction.

@FreeBritnee

Not sensationalist reporting. It was the UKHSA analysis covered by multiple reputable news organisations.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/boosters-give-70-75-protection-against-mild-disease-omicron-uk-health-security-2021-12-10/

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/10/two-jabs-give-less-protection-against-catching-omicron-than-delta-uk-data-shows

@FreeBritnee That’s what I assumed