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speak easy's JournalOmicron May Have Picked up a Piece of a Common-Cold Virus
The results of genetic sequencing leave open the possibility that Omicron may prove to be more contagious, but less virulent than Delta.
Omicron Variant May Have Picked up a Piece of Common-Cold Virus
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.
This genetic sequence does not appear in any earlier versions of the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, but is ubiquitous in many other viruses including those that cause the common cold, and also in the human genome, researchers said.
By inserting this particular snippet into itself, Omicron might be making itself look "more human," which would help it evade attack by the human immune system, said Venky Soundararajan of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based data analytics firm nference, who led the study https://osf.io/f7txy posted on Thursday on the website OSF Preprints.
This could mean the virus transmits more easily, while only causing mild or asymptomatic disease. Scientists do not yet know whether Omicron is more infectious than other variants, whether it causes more severe disease or whether it will overtake Delta as the most prevalent variant. It may take several weeks to get answers to these questions.
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-12-03/omicron-variant-may-have-picked-up-a-piece-of-common-cold-virus
Omicron in South Africa: Coronavirus cases triple in 3 days.
Coronavirus cases in South Africa nearly triple in three days as fears over omicron growCAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa’s new daily coronavirus cases have almost tripled in three days, according to new figures released Thursday, raising alarms over the possible spread of the new omicron variant recently detected by the country’s scientists.
New daily confirmed cases rose to 11,535 on Thursday from 8,561 on Wednesday and 4,373 the previous day, according to official statistics. The cases represent a 22.4 percent positivity rate of people tested for the virus, up from 16.5 percent on Wednesday, a massive jump from a 1 percent positivity rate in early November, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said.
The majority of new infections were in the populous Gauteng province around the greater Johannesburg metropolitan area, with 8,280 cases, the NICD said.
“Omicron is .probably. the fastest-spreading variant that South Africa has ever seen,” said Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University, reacting to news of the increase in cases.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/02/south-africa-coronavirus-omicron/
On the day Coronavirus B.1.1.529 was announced, South Africa had more vaccine than it could use.
The critical issue there was not vaccine inequality, but widespread hesitancy fueled, in part, by evangelical churches, and social media.
EXCLUSIVE South Africa delays COVID vaccine deliveries as inoculations slow
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 24 (Reuters) - South Africa has asked Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and Pfizer (PFE.N) to delay delivery of COVID-19 vaccines because it now has too much stock, health ministry officials said, as vaccine hesitancy slows an inoculation campaign.
... Nicholas Crisp, deputy director-general of the Health Department, told Reuters that South Africa had 16.8 million doses in stock and said deliveries had been deferred.
"We have 158 days' stock in the country at current use," a spokesman for the Health Ministry said. "We have deferred some deliveries."
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africa-delays-covid-vaccine-deliveries-inoculations-slow-2021-11-24/
Omicron variant hits South Africa, as country encounters vaccine hesitancy, conspiracy theories
...
[Pastor] Stephen Smith ... tells the factory workers and farm labourers at his services the pandemic was planned by powerful people.
... Not only has he actively discouraged people from being vaccinated, he has also discouraged several people with COVID-19 symptoms from being tested.
... He said his views — which were based on research he did "on the internet" — were also influenced by a distrust of the government.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-27/omicron-covid-variant-hits-south-africa/100646204
Omicron is the dominant coronavirus strain in South Africa, less than two weeks after first detected
Source: CNN
The Omicron variant is now the dominant coronavirus strain in South Africa, less than two weeks after it was first detected in the country.
The new B.1.1.529 lineage accounts for 76% of samples that have been genetically sequenced in November, according information published by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases on Friday. The new variant was discovered in South Africa from specimens collected on Nov. 12.
South Africa sequences less than 1% of cases, according to GISAID, a public database of genetic sequencing data, while the United States sequences about 4% of cases. And South Africa’s NICD notes that that the number of genetic sequences conducted November is especially low, but ongoing.
By contrast, it took the Delta variant a few months to become the dominant strain in South Africa in early 2021.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/covid-variant-omicron-11-29-21/index.html
The Omicron Variant *could* be good news: 'cases extremely mild'
The typical course of viral evolution is more contagious, less virulent. So far that has not happened with SARS-CoV-2
But it may be happening with the Omicron variant. Omicron has rapidly displaced Delta in the Johannesburg region, but so far the cases are reported to be 'extremely mild' according to the SAMA. IF Omicron is a less virulent strain, and can displace Delta, that would be good news.
Chair of South African Medical Association says Omicron cases are mild so far, but it's too soon to the determine risk of severe disease
... Omicron carries a concerning number of mutations that could help it spread, render vaccines less effective, or potentially lead to more severe disease. Preliminary evidence suggests Omicron may increase the risk of reinfection relative to other concerning variants, the World Health Organization said Friday.
But scientists are still waiting on more data to determine if Omicron poses a greater public health threat than Delta, the dominant worldwide strain.
"It may be it's highly transmissible, but so far the cases we are seeing are extremely mild," Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, told The Guardian on Friday. "Maybe two weeks from now I will have a different opinion, but this is what we are seeing."
https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-coronavirus-variant-cases-mild-south-africa-2021-11?r=US&IR=T
Covid: Boris Johnson announces mandatory mask wearing & restrictions on travellers amid Omicron vari
Source: Evening Standard
Covid: Boris Johnson announces mandatory mask wearing and restrictions on travellers amid Omicron variant
Boris Johnson has announced the reintroduction of masks in indoor spaces and some travel restrictions amid the arrival of the Omicron variant in the UK.
The prime minister said anyone arriving in the UK will be asked to take a PCR test for Covid-19 on the second day and they must self-isolate until they provide a negative result.
He also confirmed the reintroduction of face masks on public transport and shops, although they will not be required in hospitality venues.
Anyone in the UK who tests positive with a suspected case of the Omicron variant will also need to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their vaccination status.
Read more: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/covid-boris-johnson-restrictions-masks-omicron-b968663.html
PCR tests for travelers, but not on arrival? Masks in shops but not in bars? Typical half assed Johnson.
U.K. confirms two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142832278
Amsterdam: 10% of passengers on 2 flights from South Africa test positive for COVID
(Sequencing underway to test for the Omicron variant)
Sixty-one travellers from South Africa in Netherlands test positive for Covid
Dutch health authorities said that 61 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday tested positive for Covid-19, Reuters reports.
Authorities are conducting further testing to see if any of the infections are with the recently discovered Omicron coronavirus variant.
Around 600 passengers arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on the two KLM flights on Friday and then faced hours of delays and testing due to concerns over the new virus variant.
The Dutch health ministry said early on Saturday 61 tests had come back positive.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/nov/27/covid-news-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-countries-rush-to-impose-travel-bans-on-southern-africa
Many passengers were not wearing masks despite mandate
Many passengers on the two flights that arrived from South Africa to the Netherlands last night did not wear face coverings, New York Times reporter Stephanie Nolen says.
Nolen, who was on one plane, said many passengers did not follow the health guidelines despite a mask mandate by Dutch airline KLM, which operated both flights.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/nov/27/covid-news-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-countries-rush-to-impose-travel-bans-on-southern-africa
the ultimate Ultimate '80s power pop
Why? b/c it still brings a smile to my face whenever I hear it. And there's more power live than on record. My thoughts about '80s 'party girl' Belinda Carlisle would get me a hide, so I'll leave that as 'hot'.
I guess u guys and gals prefer Bon Jovi :yikes:
Mark Zuckerberg nixed a Spanish language version of Facebook's "voting information center" in 2020.
Ahead of the 2020 U.S. election, Facebook built a “voting information center” that promoted factual information about how to register to vote or sign up to be a poll worker. Teams at WhatsApp wanted to create a version of it in Spanish, pushing the information proactively through a chat bot or embedded link to millions of marginalized voters who communicate regularly through WhatsApp. But Zuckerberg raised objections to the idea, saying it was not “politically neutral,” or could make the company appear partisan, according to a person familiar with the project who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, as well as documents reviewed by The Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/25/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-whistleblower/
No Australian Open for Novak Djokovic if he isn't double vaccinated.
(Australian) Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has some pointed remarks for tennis superstar and nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has been rather reluctant to say whether he’s had a coronavirus jab.
But if he wants a shot at the tenth title, he’ll need to be double vaccinated.
Speaking on the ABC’s RN Breakfast earlier this morning, Mr Hawke ruled out a special exemption for tennis players.
“The government in establishing its borders has said that you’ll need to be double vaccinated to visit Australia. That’s a universal application, not just to tennis players. I mean that every visitor to Australia will need to be double vaccinated,” Mr Hawke said.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-melbourne-prepares-to-exit-lockdown-mike-baird-to-appear-at-icac-inquiry-into-gladys-berejiklian-cleo-smith-search-continues-20211019-p591c3.html
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