DOOM: "Omicron Covid cases ‘doubling every two to three days’ in UK"

[AtW]

Omicron Covid cases ‘doubling every two to three days’ in UK, says scientist

Prof Neil Ferguson says coronavirus variant likely to be dominant strain in the UK before Christmas

The spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus appears to be doubling every two to three days, Prof Neil Ferguson has said, adding that it could be necessary to impose new lockdowns as a result.

Ferguson, a member of the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) and head of the disease outbreak modelling group at Imperial College London, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday that Omicron was likely to be the dominant strain in the UK before Christmas.

“It’s likely to overtake Delta before Christmas at this rate, precisely when is hard to say,” Ferguson said, speaking in a personal capacity.

“We’ll start seeing an impact on overall case numbers – it’s still probably only 2%, 3% of all cases so it’s kind of swamped, but within a week or two we’ll start seeing overall case numbers accelerate quite markedly as well.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...says-scientist

[malvolio]

The question they should be answering is "How many people are getting sick from Omicron and how many of those are in hospital". So far, the answer seems to be "hardly any"...

[mattster]

The question they should be answering is "How many people are getting sick from Omicron and how many of those are in hospital". So far, the answer seems to be "hardly any"...

What would your approach be, let it rip and hope for the best? Or take some sensible precautions until the data is in? I'll go with the latter, and fingers crossed it is indeed milder. It doesn't look like there is any hard data on that yet though.

[AtW]

So far, the answer seems to be "hardly any"...

And there were almost none in hospital in early March 2020

[OwlHoot]

The question they should be answering is "How many people are getting sick from Omicron and how many of those are in hospital". So far, the answer seems to be "hardly any"...

Exactly! They should encouraging people not to wear face masks, and hover round anyone who is coughing and looks a bit feverish!

Seriously, if this variant is not serious, its a heaven-sent opportunity to spread a bit of natural immunity, as long as more people don't start copping doses of the naughtier variants. That's the problem.

[AtW]

if this variant is not serious

And if it isn't?

It clearly got a LOT higher transmissibility, and looks like it evades vaccines and re-infects those who had previous strains, if mortality going to be the same or worse then we are fecked.

And future strains might increase mortality anyway, with such high transmissibility instantly dropping 10% infected people won't stop transmission (well, other than people hiding to save their lives).

[NigelJK]

Is this the same Professor who ignores nearly 200 years of immunology research that says that if you have had Covid you are immune from catching the same strain again?

[mattster]

Is this the same Professor who ignores nearly 200 years of immunology research that says that if you have had Covid you are immune from catching the same strain again?

So we have 200 years of research on Covid? We really should have been better prepared. If instead your thesis is that once you catch any virus you are immune to it for life, then that is simply wrong.

[SueEllen]

Is this the same Professor who ignores nearly 200 years of immunology research that says that if you have had Covid you are immune from catching the same strain again?

Omicron isn't delta which isn't alpha......

I already know a couple of people who have had Covid twice.

[BlueSharp]

The question they should be answering is "How many people are getting sick from Omicron and how many of those are in hospital". So far, the answer seems to be "hardly any"...

South Africa Life expectancy: 64 Average age: 27

UK life expectancy: 81 Average age: 41

I hope it's mild but you're not comparing a like for like population, lets hope the vaccine's hold for the over 60s.