Saturday, December 18, 2021

Pandemic Saturday

 

56,66,56,0,B

12 comments:

pamit said...

Winter is coming.

Billy Danner said...

Winter is here.

Brian said...

Glad to see omicron seems to be a much milder variant so far.

pamit said...

Omicron is not milder in transmissibility. The severity of illness caused by Omicron *may* be milder. The speed with which it spreads may offset the possible reduction in severity. And don't forget about "long covid", which isn't associated with only severe cases. Finally, Omicron will undoubtedly speed up the rate of mutation of this virus, since more folks are likely to catch it and serve as incubators.

Happy Solstice! (Also known as the first day of winter.)

Brian said...

Pamit, can't take anything as good news can you?

pamit said...

It makes them smart, actually - more evidence that Omicron is highly, highly contagious, and nothing to categorize as "good news". Warren and Booker are vaxed, so it's unlikely they'll be hospitalized or struggle with "long covid".

Brian said...

Pamit,Actually it can be seen as possible good news. Yes it's more transmissable but so far seems to be less deadly. Case counts don't really matter it's the outcome of those cases that matter. Hopefully this new variant is a sign that it's becoming more endemic and less pandemic, much like the spanish flu which tore through the world killing huge portions of populations before mutating to a much milder strain(deaths wise)and becoming less of a problem. Covid is here to stay regardless of vaccinations(it resides in animals as well so its never going away)and we're just going to have to learn to treat and live with it. I wish none of this was happening but it is and it's here to stay unfortunately.

pamit said...

Two words, Brian: long covid. As conservatives natter on about the low death rate of covid (and now, the low hospitalization rate of the Omicron variant) they consistently ignore the long-term effects of infection that so many are dealing with now and may be dealing with forever. Devastating on a personal level, expensive to society, and something we don't know enough about yet.

One more word: mutation. With Omicron's transmissibility off the charts, each person contracting it serves as an incubator for further changes to the virus. What will we get next, a Delta or an Omicron?

Brian said...

Pamit, clearly we see things a little differently which is fine. I find it fascinating that some people are so invested in doom and gloom. But on a personal level I truly hope that you and the people you love have a safe and joyous holiday.

pamit said...

Brian, rather than throw out left-handed insults ("invested in doom and gloom"), you might want to take the facts into consideration, as you whistle through the graveyard. Primarily I'm interested in you not misleading folks who may be reading this, with your dangerous comments that Omicron is "good news". Sir, it is not.

just.Bob said...

I’m pretty sure that “as you whistle through the graveyard” is a left-handed insult as well.

pamit said...

Yes, but unlike Brian, I do take facts into consideration. So that makes my left-handed insults justified :-) jk