2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2820256 27-Nov-2021 14:40

One aspect of it as well (at least right now) is that it can be detected by PCR test - many of the other variants have required genomic testing to identify them specifically.

debo

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#2820257 27-Nov-2021 14:42

ezbee:
Hah, The reluctance to use Nu seems silly.
You don't have many Greek letters to spare.

There is something else in the Greek alphabet, apparently Xi comes before Omicron.
So they skipped Xi, :-)

You don't need many more Greek letters. Omega is the last letter and that story has already been written...

SJB

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#2820259 27-Nov-2021 14:46

I wonder if the variant after Omicron is going to be called Omigod.

Handle9

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#2820269 27-Nov-2021 16:59

vexxxboy:
if it is as bad as experts say then i would really hate to be unvaccinated when it arrives.

The experts aren’t saying it will be bad. They are saying they don’t know yet.

Sup

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#2820274 27-Nov-2021 17:17

vexxxboy:

a good article to put things in perspective and basically don't panic

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/456693/covid-19-at-the-moment-we-don-t-know-much-about-omicron-virologist

Thanks I will listen to the podcast, I really enjoy Chris Smiths musings on Kim Hills show. He said the same thing of Delta of course, and the others. He does not mind fielding all manner of the usual questions joe bloggs asks and his tone never seems to show signs of wear and tear from being asked inane questions.

Just keep swimming...

mattwnz

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#2820282 27-Nov-2021 17:42

Handle9:
vexxxboy:

if it is as bad as experts say then i would really hate to be unvaccinated when it arrives.

The experts aren’t saying it will be bad. They are saying they don’t know yet.

That is why I would expect a country like NZ needs a very cautious approach, and our border will need to be rock solid to keep it out, until more is known. Otherwise due to our poor health/ICU capacity, and Delta being allowed to spread throughout NZ as we live with it, we could face future lockdowns if vaccines need to be improved for Omicron. The only reason we are now going to be living with Delta, rather than going down the elimination path this time, is because the vaccine is effective againest Delta. We don't know how effective it is againest Omicron, and that potentially could throw off all the modeling and numbers..

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ezbee

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#2820284 27-Nov-2021 17:48

I can understand Africa would be upset by travel bans,
however if this popped up with such dire 'potential' somewhere else,
they might do the same at least temporarily until picture is clearer.

Many countries the travel bans have holes in them with citizens and residents allowed, and no or minimal MIQ.
I don't think USA runs an MIQ system for citizens, so with volume of travel through USA might be next place to pop up ?
Apparently in USA genomic testing is pretty sparse for size of country.

Though there are sports teams in South Africa scrambling to get back home to UK, Europe too.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300464659/new-covid19-variant-hits-sport-as-players-teams-scramble-to-get-out-of-southern-africa

mattwnz

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#2820285 27-Nov-2021 17:54

ezbee:

I can understand Africa would be upset by travel bans,
however if this popped up with such dire 'potential' somewhere else,
they might do the same at least temporarily until picture is clearer.

Many countries the travel bans have holes in them with citizens and residents allowed, and no or minimal MIQ.
I don't think USA runs an MIQ system for citizens, so with volume of travel through USA might be next place to pop up ?
Apparently in USA genomic testing is pretty sparse for size of country.

Though there are sports teams in South Africa scrambling to get back home to UK, Europe too.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300464659/new-covid19-variant-hits-sport-as-players-teams-scramble-to-get-out-of-southern-africa

I remember how upset China were when we banned travel from China last year whne the outbreak started to worsen and we didn't know what was going to happen with all he uncertainty. Now China are still doing elimination and even testing NZs imported food for the virus. NZ has to do what is right for NZ.

tdgeek

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#2820286 27-Nov-2021 17:57

mattwnz:

The only reason we are now going to be living with Delta, rather than going down the elimination path this time, is because the vaccine is effective againest Delta.

I think its down to lack of compliance by some in AKL. The plan was to vaccinate THEN live with it. That will lessen the many cases we will now get in AKL due to freedoms.

tdgeek

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#2820287 27-Nov-2021 17:59

mattwnz:

I remember how upset China were when we banned travel from China last year whne the outbreak started to worsen

Standard political response, they all probably have a Word template...

ezbee

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#2820291 27-Nov-2021 18:12

Providing its done without malice, and we accept if positions are reversed.
Its not that we are rounding up African nationals that are here or anything like that.
Africans got a raw deal in China when original outbreak started.
It was bizarre.

Just buying time, our imperfect MIQ already overloaded with some difficult cases in Auckland.
Staff concerned for their safety. Even resignations from Defense Force as this goes on.
Well its not the ideal situation for an even more contagious variant.
If this is, and for now we don't really know.

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Handle9

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#2820292 27-Nov-2021 18:13

mattwnz:

The only reason we are now going to be living with Delta, rather than going down the elimination path this time, is because the vaccine is effective againest Delta.

No. There is no magic wand where elimination was ever going to be effective long term.

JaseNZ

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#2820295 27-Nov-2021 18:35

Bloody hell great naming you bastards now all I have stuck in my head is Futurama.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

rugrat

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#2820297 27-Nov-2021 18:48

Handle9:

mattwnz:

The only reason we are now going to be living with Delta, rather than going down the elimination path this time, is because the vaccine is effective againest Delta.

No. There is no magic wand where elimination was ever going to be effective long term.

If we didn’t have the vaccine we would still be doing lockdowns. If this new variant is resistance to the vaccine it is back to square one with overseas travel until they have another vaccine/ treatments for it.

Until they get the data on it would rather they be over cautious, then just take chances, and find out when it is to late.

Handle9

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#2820307 27-Nov-2021 19:14

rugrat:
Handle9:

No. There is no magic wand where elimination was ever going to be effective long term.

If we didn’t have the vaccine we would still be doing lockdowns. If this new variant is resistance to the vaccine it is back to square one with overseas travel until they have another vaccine/ treatments for it.

Until they get the data on it would rather they be over cautious, then just take chances, and find out when it is to late.

Yes there would be lockdowns. That doesn’t mean that it was ever viable to have elimination as a long term strategy. It’s not possible.

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