Biden official warns: COVID explosion imminent

[sybylla]

33. So facts are hysteria?

Hysteria is a hugely problematic word chock full of misogynistic fluff, so I am admittedly riled a bit over this usage of it.

Perceived hysteria surely does what you say. On the other hand, telling a person they can't have a steak because a baby can't chew is censorship. (h/t Mark Twain) People can't handle the news shouldn't be watching. They should instead be consulting with medical professionals they trust.

I agree that Omicron was likely here before SA found it because in this country we test a very small percentage of positives for strains. I said early on that stopping travel at that point was stupid. Quarantine of travelers and testing were the best options, but no one in this country has the stomach for it.

I have been following doctors and epidemiologists from other countries on social media since January 2020, trying to find facts and stay on top of the truths about as COVID and our knowledge of it evolves. I did this so I could keep my 94 yo grandmother and my 9 yo grandson safe as well as my family informed since before it arrived here (in theory). I will continue to do so until it ever stops being a threat.

There are studies confirming the fast spread. Several. Plus actuarial data from countries who do a lot more dna analysis of strains than we do. It's a blessing that we have so much research so quickly. I've shared some twitter links on this thread. You should check them out. The hint that it was fast spreading was that it popped up almost simultaneously in so many countries. The people who were saying this weren't new to the game. They knew what Beta and Delta and all the other variants had done and saw early on that Omicron was different. Now there's proof.

I learned 18 months ago that those who don't understand science and how it works are doomed to believe all science produces is hysteria. I've also learned in the last 18 months that there isn't much you or I can do to change those opinions - I've got senior parents who buy all the Faux lies and there isn't a thing I can do or say to persuade them otherwise. Same with other extended family members.

I think it's far more important that we are honest with people about what is known and that anecdotal evidence is just that: anecdotal. And never stop pushing people to speak with their own trusted medical professionals, not Trump or Joe Rogan or Sean Hannity.