Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Update on Omicron

who.int

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

711–720 of 794 posts

Re: Update on Omicron

#711

Post by shlant »

junon wrote: post #661
shlant wrote: post #576

good twitter thread that provides a level-headed perspective based on what we actually currently know: https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/146422268073182004...

Hmmm this goes against what the RKI is saying. Omicron is indeed very infectious, as the data has certainly shown so far. This appears to be an individual in the thought camp of "we don't know if it's a big deal so let's not treat it like one". I disagree, personally - we did that the first time and it made things worse. Why risk it?

> Omicron is indeed very infectious, as the data has certainly shown so far.

What data are you referring to? The WHO[1] and most experts I've seen say we don't have enough information to know that yet

> we don't know if it's a big deal so let's not treat it like one

not sure how that is your interpretation. Their thread is mostly addressing those (such as yourself) who are speaking as if they already know how transmissible/deadly/vaccine evasive it is.

1. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron

Re: Update on Omicron

#712

Post by supernovae »

throwaway894345 wrote: post #525
supernovae wrote: post #455

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nonsense. Africa is miles ahead of many countries because they have been frought with epidemics. The South African variant is only called south African because they have the technology to do genomics on the strain to identify that it has mutated and there is a new mutation running around.

Having had epidemics previously or having advanced genomic capability doesn’t imply a robust logistics network for the world’s first RNA vaccines which require particularly cold refrigeration.

Doesn't imply they don't already have the tech or couldn't implement the tech for cold distribution (which has been greatly improved from where it started even in the US)

Re: Update on Omicron

#713

Post by kvathupo »

chimprich wrote: post #629
mpfundstein wrote: post #594

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why should we trust this weird twitter account? where is this person even from? She/he says senior scientist? Of what?

She's a well-known commentator on the pandemic. She is/was involved in the development of the Moderna vaccine, verified by various media orgs. She's a credible commentator, but she tends to skew towards the positive end of the arguments. That thread is 3 days old, and there's a bit more evidence now that Omicron is spreading quite effectively.

Something about this just doesn't sit well with me. I find an individual's anonymity troubling when one speaks in an authoritative manner about healthcare policy for two reasons.

Firstly, it's concerning that I have to take someone's word on their authority. I'd much rather see their Google scholar to gauge the extent to which they are engaged in current research. Indeed, two researchers in the same subfield of quantum computing could easily work in different areas, say adiabatic- vs gate-based quantum computing.

Secondly, I'd like to think that the reason we often interview CDC officials is since they're experienced in healthcare public policy. Especially with respect to the Twitter thread's commentary about whether we'll be "back to square one," science isn't the sole basis for policy.

While I do appreciate the Twitter user's engagement with a lay audience, I hope the latter consult other sources as well. That's, however, not to undermine their endeavors: I think the Twitter user has done splendid work in encouraging readers to think critically and curiously.

Re: Update on Omicron

#715

Post by shlant »

derbOac wrote: post #673
shlant wrote: post #580

Earlier quoted context omitted.

from what I understand, based on current evidence, travel restrictions will not do much at this point: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/1...

I'm a little confused by that article, to be honest. The Science paper they link seems to confirm that travel restrictions can have effect. Eg, from the abstract: " The travel quarantine of Wuhan delayed the overall epidemic progression by only 3 to 5 days in mainland China but had a more marked effect on the international scale, where case importations were reduced by nearly 80% until mid-February." My impression is…

from what I understand travel restrictions are more effective earlier in the pandemic (as you pointed out from the Science paper) and less effective as the virus becomes ubiquitous.

Re: Update on Omicron

#716

Post by [deleted] »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #601
incrudible wrote: post #586

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Wear mask and stay indoors if possible For all we know about transmission, you should stay outdoors, if possible. If this isn't possible, maximize ventilation. Limit contacts in general. Masks have a very modest impact on transmission.

>Masks have a very modest impact on transmission. Please stop propagating this BS. If someone positive coughs in your direction but wears an FFP2 mask on and so do you, then the chance of you getting infected is much lower. That's why it's mandatory in Austria and why healthcare workers wear them, not because it's fashionable but to limit the spread of airborne disease which COVID is one. Granted, Austria failed to c…

[deleted]

Re: Update on Omicron

#717

Post by shlant »

OneTimePetes wrote: post #602
shlant wrote: post #580

Earlier quoted context omitted.

from what I understand, based on current evidence, travel restrictions will not do much at this point: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/1...

Travel restrictions bought Taiwan and South Korea lots of time in the beginning. Other countries who usually follow scientific guidance have implemented them (israel). There seem to be no real papers linked to the base of this guidance, except that they feel like a attack on the freedom of movement for a globalist elite and the tourism industry. I rather prefer to be healthy and safe, then to put a blind eye to some…

> Travel restrictions bought Taiwan and South Korea lots of time in the beginning

They are islands and from what I understand travel restrictions are more relevant earlier in a pandemic

> There seem to be no real papers linked to the base of this guidance

There are a few in the article. Did you read it?

Re: Update on Omicron

#718

Post by raadore »

HN folks are all pseudo, amateur, professional scientists of all fields, at least that’s what I pickup from the conversations. A true scientist, ex. Marie Skłodowska-Curie, will perform every kind of test possible to ensure he gets to the truth. Here’s a scientific test for COVID: turn off all media, news and information sharing apps for 3-5 days, report daily your findings, continue with the test after 5 days if no abnormalities detected. Share your results with others.

Re: Update on Omicron

#719

Post by marexv »

Bud wrote: post #680
marexv wrote: post #655

It is not going to stop... new variants, booster shots, masks, lock downs, tests for everyone everyday. Get over it. It's like airport security, once setup, the system is not going away and soon nobody will remember how life used to look like before all of it happened.

It actually differs from airport security in one crucial way: vaccination actually works, and it will continue to work. Airport security measures, at least the ones commonly discussed, the ones that spring up after 9/11, have zero effect these days, since the threats they were supposedly intended to combat were solved the moment cockpit doors were required to remain locked at all times. Vaccines work, boosters work,…

Well they do have some effects. For example, I won't even think about flying, except if it is necessary because of my work.

Same as covid measures. I won't even think about participating in activities requiring me to have a green pass, except if it is necessary because of my work.

Tandem is operating just fine. The thing is that it is going to operate forever now and it is not going to be pretty.

Re: Update on Omicron

#720

Post by ospzfmbbzr »

ceejayoz wrote: post #599
bpmayer wrote: post #577

Translation: "Give us more power"

What power does the WHO currently have?

For some reason they are still treated like a trust-worthy authority despite continually getting things wrong. They are rainmakers -- if the results don't match their promises they just blame the people for angering the gods and demand more sacrifices.
Post reply on HN