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Original poster

New covid variant

45 replies

rubyy73 · 05/01/2023 06:35

So, I have heard of a new variant that is becoming or is now dominant in USA and coming over here. From what I have read from the scientists, it's still from the omicron 'type' & not thought to be worse but maybe spread faster.

At the same time on news and personal say so of a cold with bad cough that hit a lot of folk - and not sure if scare mongering talk - but twice now heard on media presenters who said they had this over xmas, that it felt like covid but didn't test positive. Then on GMT they talking about a the new covid strain not testing positive on LFTs.

Just wondered if anyone else heard much about new strain.
Also my head saying there are so many other viruses than covid - and think potentially scare mongering on tv presenters making suggestion a new strain not being picked up in tests. But then I know the government will be last to let us know about is this is the case! Is anyone actually testing folk for what strain they have anymore??

Just to add family (2 teen & dh) no covid we knew of 2020 or 2021, but 5 lots in 2022 (3 of those oct,nov,dec) and NONE of us ever had it at the same time or within one month of each other!!

Tks

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 05/01/2023 06:43

🙄

reginaPhalange1990 · 05/01/2023 06:46

🫠🫠🫠

PAFMO · 05/01/2023 07:43

Yes, the new strain getting dominant in the US is all over the news. As the news article gave the numbers felt to be infected with the new strain it seems unlikely they're testing negative. It's also already in the UK and Europe but there's high immunity generally to most strains.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64164306

PAFMO · 05/01/2023 07:43

(it's been here since late summer BTW)

itsgettingweird · 05/01/2023 07:47

They'll always be new and variant trains of covid 19.

We've had a pandemic - it will become endemic.

The same way the 4 other corona viruses that cause colds are.

Spanish fly was a pandemic 100 years ago. It's still endemic now.

It's also very widely written about in medical science that virus mutate to become more transmissible but less deadly because it's how they survive.

Nothing covid has done so far has surprised me from what I've learnt and medical friends have been saying since January 2020!

EddietheEagle · 05/01/2023 07:51

I'm not worried or interested anymore. And I agree with pp, it's been here since the Summer.

Covid is the new 'flu' or 'cold', and we just have to learn to live with it now. It's no longer the illness where you need to isolate etc

secretllama · 05/01/2023 08:22

EddietheEagle · 05/01/2023 07:51

I'm not worried or interested anymore. And I agree with pp, it's been here since the Summer.

Covid is the new 'flu' or 'cold', and we just have to learn to live with it now. It's no longer the illness where you need to isolate etc

Same, and hearing of people wanting restrictions makes me want to scream.
Its more transmissible but let's put back in restrictions which didn't help with the previous 13847374 strains that were less transmissable....🙄

Suzi888 · 05/01/2023 08:24

Never mind covid, the chest infection currently going around is wiping out my work colleagues!

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 05/01/2023 09:11

Then on GMT they talking about a the new covid strain not testing positive on LFTs

Is GMT the same as GMB? Dr Hilary was quite clear that he sees no reason that the tests will be less effective.

What are you wanting people to tell you?

Limesodaandice · 05/01/2023 09:34

Why do people get so irritated on here by someone starting a conversation and asking questions?

glasgow1983 · 05/01/2023 13:02

XBB? The usual suspects are talking up its transmissibility and saying we should be very concerned.

It could really be the wolf this time. But who really knows? They've been telling us each previous variant and each previous wave was the wolf.

It's impossible to get a realistic view on anything to do with covid anyway. One group seeks to maximise everything while the other group minimises, with both groups misrepresenting statistics to prove their case.

TwilightSkies · 05/01/2023 13:04

Why do people get so irritated on here by someone starting a conversation and asking questions?

because they are ableist!!

Oblomov22 · 05/01/2023 13:05

Not that bothered. Not prepared to let it affect my life.

JoyPeaceSleep · 05/01/2023 13:08

I think its just omicron

Harebrain · 05/01/2023 13:10

🙄

JoyPeaceSleep · 05/01/2023 13:10

TwilightSkies · 05/01/2023 13:04

Why do people get so irritated on here by someone starting a conversation and asking questions?

because they are ableist!!

Asking a question about covid strains in the USA is "ableist" 🤔

Rolypops · 05/01/2023 13:14

Limesodaandice · 05/01/2023 09:34

Why do people get so irritated on here by someone starting a conversation and asking questions?

Lockdown was deeply difficult and distressing for a lot of people, many just can't abide the idea of any restrictions coming back into force. Even as a disabled person who had to shield for eighteen months I can't really blame them. Unless people literally start dropping dead d in public I can't see any meaningful restrictions coming into place anyway.

HOWEVER, this is the covid topic so the eye rolling emojis etc aren't really warranted. If discussing covid annoys you so much just...don't come on to this particular part of the site?

Swissmountains · 05/01/2023 13:33

I have covid now. I am still testing totally negative even though I clearly have covid and I am really ill. No big shakes agreed for healthy people, but for those with cancer, immune issues etc it is a big deal and they will still need to be very careful, so spreading around a new variant because we have no test available to pick this up is not great for everyone.

Secondly, the 'chest infection' everyone has got, is almost certainly covid suzi888 and we won't know for sure until we can test properly again. I have a tight chest and a fever etc, no taste etc and properly unwell. Still negative.

Of course we need to remain informed and vigilant.

We can't just stop caring, covid is not yesterday's new, a new variant could have massive consequences for some people/ all of us if takes hold and hospital admissions explode - as it is being suggested by Mr Barcaly this morning.

Yes we do need to care. Sorry.

Seasonofthewitch83 · 05/01/2023 13:36

I hate how 'Learning to live with it' actually means 'I am pretending it doesnt exist' and not actually doing any learning.

Covid is still here, Long Covid is still devastating the younger population (I have two previously healthy friends suffering with it.)

I have started wearing a mask again on busy public transport and shops again. I am mitigating risk by choosing mainly outdoor activities and staying home when I am sick.

If that makes me an idiot, then so be it.

MichaelFabricantWig · 05/01/2023 13:49

Christ, who even cares any more

vodkaredbullgirl · 05/01/2023 13:54

🙄 it's going to change every time, just like the flu virus.

Choconut · 05/01/2023 14:00

Why are people saying it's been here since the summer? From what I read on the BBC, XBB has been here since September and XBB 1.5 is a more recent one.

XBB wasn't of concern but XBB 1.5 has developed a way to evade the immune system that makes it spread more easily than any other variant. It's not supposed to be more serious though.

jugglerofballs · 05/01/2023 14:01

Suzi888 · 05/01/2023 08:24

Never mind covid, the chest infection currently going around is wiping out my work colleagues!

You don’t catch a chest infection. It develops from other things (cold, flu, etc).

User963 · 05/01/2023 14:03

Swissmountains · 05/01/2023 13:33

I have covid now. I am still testing totally negative even though I clearly have covid and I am really ill. No big shakes agreed for healthy people, but for those with cancer, immune issues etc it is a big deal and they will still need to be very careful, so spreading around a new variant because we have no test available to pick this up is not great for everyone.

Secondly, the 'chest infection' everyone has got, is almost certainly covid suzi888 and we won't know for sure until we can test properly again. I have a tight chest and a fever etc, no taste etc and properly unwell. Still negative.

Of course we need to remain informed and vigilant.

We can't just stop caring, covid is not yesterday's new, a new variant could have massive consequences for some people/ all of us if takes hold and hospital admissions explode - as it is being suggested by Mr Barcaly this morning.

Yes we do need to care. Sorry.

Are you sure you don't have the flu? Why are you so sure it is covid? Everyone round here has had flu recently.

MaverickGooseGoose · 05/01/2023 14:05

Swissmountains · 05/01/2023 13:33

I have covid now. I am still testing totally negative even though I clearly have covid and I am really ill. No big shakes agreed for healthy people, but for those with cancer, immune issues etc it is a big deal and they will still need to be very careful, so spreading around a new variant because we have no test available to pick this up is not great for everyone.

Secondly, the 'chest infection' everyone has got, is almost certainly covid suzi888 and we won't know for sure until we can test properly again. I have a tight chest and a fever etc, no taste etc and properly unwell. Still negative.

Of course we need to remain informed and vigilant.

We can't just stop caring, covid is not yesterday's new, a new variant could have massive consequences for some people/ all of us if takes hold and hospital admissions explode - as it is being suggested by Mr Barcaly this morning.

Yes we do need to care. Sorry.

You have no idea if you have covid or not.