General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMore info about that Covid variant BA.2 that's hitting Denmark hard
Found this study - granted, its lab and rodent research, but still interesting for folks who are following its development. Published 2/14/22, not yet peer-reviewed, but reputable team.
These data suggest that, similar to BA.1, BA.2 is highly resistant to the antisera induced by vaccination and infection with other SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as three antiviral therapeutic antibodies.
These data suggest that BA.2 is more rapidly and efficiently spread in the lung tissues than BA.1.
Together with a higher effective reproduction number and pronounced immune resistance of BA.2, it is evident that the spread of BA.2 can be a serious issue for global health in the near future.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.14.480335v1.full
Theres a lot of useful background research info here, too.
I was hoping to be able to get my mom back into her assisted living (took her out when Covid first hit; there were subsequently deaths there, sadly) since transmission has dropped, but it seems that BA.2 is less responsive to vaccine-induced immunity, more transmissible, more pathogenic and less responsive to monoclonal antibody treatment. Info is important for all of us as safety protocols are being lifted. Theres an expert on CNN right now saying the high transmissibility (the map of the country shown is completely red) is not so worrisome because we have vaccines. I am guessing he may not have read this research yet. Well see what happens. Stay safe.
Siwsan
(26,179 posts)I think I'm going to carry on wearing one for at least another year. I haven't had a cold in over 2 years!
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Response to JudyM (Original post)
DFW This message was self-deleted by its author.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)😷
JudyM
(29,122 posts)So the mandates/guidelines get dropped and then, before long, go back into effect to a chorus of see? science is ignorant, give us our freedumb.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Same bs over & over...
I'll stick with my 3M N-95s!
😷
Fiendish Thingy
(15,373 posts)JudyM
(29,122 posts)Poor health care workers, I cant imagine the psychological toll
wnylib
(21,146 posts)Memorial Day when people will get together in large numbers, despite the warnings.
Initech
(99,915 posts)2naSalit
(86,076 posts)For at least a year, infection and death rates are high. The grocery store has the N95 masks for free, limit three. So I grabbed three last time I was there, I needed new ones. I might grab a few more if they are still there next time I go.
progree
(10,864 posts)Google:
"denmark covid hospitalizations"
without the quotes
A graph appears at the top showing both overall covid hospitalizations and also ICU occupancy.
ICU use fell by more than half from about Jan 10 (when it was 78) to 30 on Feb 4, and that's where it is on Feb 16, the latest. This in a country of 5.8 million, so an ICU occuancy rate of 5.2 per million.
(data obtained less than 12 hours ago from a reputable source, "Google" )
JudyM
(29,122 posts)progree
(10,864 posts)It's a graph that says it's from Our World In Data
I'm still seeing what I wrote before ...
Hospitalizations rising strongly in Denmark but ICU has been declining, then abt level for 12 days
Google:
"denmark covid hospitalizations"
without the quotes (or with them)
... ICU use fell by more than half from about Jan 10 (when it was 78) to 30 on Feb 4, and that's where it is on Feb 16, the latest. This in a country of 5.8 million, so an ICU occupancy rate of 5.2 per million.
Tip: to the right of the country selector, which should be on Denmark, there is an "All Time" button next to it. Change that to 30 days, that way it's easy to "mouse along" and read the numbers on the pop-up for the date where the mouse is, for example on the end, it will read, "people hospitalized ... 1,447" and "people in ICU ... 29"
The Feb 17 is an update came after my last post.
(One has to have the time set to 3 months, 6 months or all-time to see the January 10 point of 78 in ICU).
Please let me know if you still aren't seeing that. Thanks
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)We are still masking etc if course. Wearing n95 now and teaching in person. I hope it will be over first then I go back to remote if possible.
Any news on the vaccine the army is working on that will supposedly protect against all variants?
JudyM
(29,122 posts)Ugh, lets hope I dont catch it from my students, the most likely place for me. I am wearing n95 which fit well, tightly sealed and go to my car to eat etc.
Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)Don 't forget about washing those hands or use hs if you're not able to. That's still important.
mvd
(65,148 posts)Its still omicron and I wear my mask and have been vaccinated. I dont like everyone going back to normal because who knows what is next.
Initech
(99,915 posts)Hopefully this will come to pass and it won't be as crazy as Omicron or Delta were. It could also be like that P1 variant which never left Brazil too. Nobody really knows.