New heavily mutated variant B.1.1.529 in South Africa raises concern

[Teacher Terry]

That’s horrible about the couple exposing everyone on the plane. I hope they are charged with a crime.

[Calico]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenXguy Really, nothing surprises me anymore.

Nothing surprises me after the last 20 months.

[Osprey]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/29/omic...ow-so-far.html

South African Dr who discovered the new variant describes the symptoms as mild.

[ShokWaveRider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry That’s horrible about the couple exposing everyone on the plane. I hope they are charged with a crime.

Where were they bound for? The USA?

[Helen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider Where were they bound for? The USA?

Spain.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/d...ntine-rcna6893

[ShokWaveRider]

I found this interesting today, The South is experiencing very low infection rates, including Florida. So there is another advantage to living in a Snow free state . Seriously though, it seems a warm(er) climate really does make a difference.

[Bigdawg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osprey https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/29/omic...ow-so-far.html South African Dr who discovered the new variant describes the symptoms as mild.

^Exactly! No the sky is not falling.

[Another Reader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider I found this interesting today, The South is experiencing very low infection rates, including Florida. So there is another advantage to living in a Snow free state . Seriously though, it seems a warm(er) climate really does make a difference.

Warmer climates where people are not confined inside generally have lower case rates. You are golfing and playing tennis down there...outside and distanced.

[Hamlet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider I found this interesting today, The South is experiencing very low infection rates, including Florida. So there is another advantage to living in a Snow free state . Seriously though, it seems a warm(er) climate really does make a difference.

Florida and most of the rest of the South had horrible rate and death peaks a couple months ago. Their deaths/capita have been really bad compared to anywhere but New York and New Jersey at the very beginning.

I think their rates are low at this point because pretty much everyone unvaccinated got infected recently.

[harllee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet Florida and most of the rest of the South had horrible rate and death peaks a couple months ago. Their deaths/capita have been really bad compared to anywhere but New York and New Jersey at the very beginning. I think their rates are low at this point because pretty much everyone unvaccinated got infected recently.

Florida may have lower rates now but back in the summer when Floridians had to go inside in the air conditioning their rates where much higher. I think the key is to try to avoid inside spaces with little ventilation.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneysteve Overwhelming the system isn't just about the hospitals. It's about the entire healthcare system. ....

It's scary how parts of the healthcare system are possibly not available.

I read this story about an un-vaccinated fellow that caught covid, the surprising part was his wife called for an ambulance but none were available.
"she took her unconscious husband to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where she said there were 12 ambulances queuing outside when she arrived."

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/coronaviru...170627651.html

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigdawg ^Exactly! No the sky is not falling.

I'd say wait for more data. Namely, whether the new variant is good a dodging the current vaccines. Won't know how good the current vaccines go up against the new variant until about 2 weeks.

Saw on morning news saying would take about 6 months if needed to make a vaccine specifically for the new variant.

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Barnfellow It depends on the canton and region--if I recall you are in Romandie, yes? Here in Ticino (Italian speaking) everyone is masked up on public transit, including buses and trains; you will be asked either put on a mask or be escorted off. The federal government announced this week that they are not taking further measures as yet, preferring to allow the cantons to get things right. If not, they will act. In Sunday's referendum, the chances are seen as very low that the anti-Covid certification proposal will pass. My problem is we have a young woman, our "surrogate daughter," who is planning to visit us in mid-December, flying in from Ottawa, Canada. We are unsure of what the situation will be like in three weeks and if she even will be able to enter the country by then. Now the new S.A. variant adds a new wrinkle. On the good news front, my wife and I just got our third jab a few hours ago! -BB

As expected, in Sunday's referendum, the Swiss voted against negating the federal laws about vaccination and other anti-virus measures.

But, alas, our young Canadian friend, for whom we are considered "family," just messaged me that Switzerland has enacted a 10-day quarantine for visitors from a number of countries, Canada included, where the omicron strain has been found :-) So, we won't get to see her. We are so disappointed, as is she.

-BB

[street]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harllee Florida may have lower rates now but back in the summer when Floridians had to go inside in the air conditioning their rates where much higher. I think the key is to try to avoid inside spaces with little ventilation.

Exactly.
Winter months doesn't mean you have to be confined. There isn't a day that people aren't skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, skating, outdoor hockey, hunting, trapping, hiking, walking, snowmobiling and so many outdoor activities in the winter.

[tmm99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by street Exactly. Winter months doesn't mean you have to be confined. There isn't a day that people aren't skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, skating, outdoor hockey, hunting, trapping, hiking, walking, snowmobiling and so many outdoor activities in the winter.

You're exactly right. We have tons of outdoor activities we can do in the winter months. But, we normally don't picnic or BBQ with friends or hold birthday parties outdoors when it's this cold out. My friend used to do bonfires in her huge backyard every week during summer months and there were usually several people who showed up with lawn chairs. She's trying to do the same thing now in the middle of winter (in Canada), and I'm down for it (I have really good winter clothes that keep me toasty warm), but not many people are willing to come out. (Only three people said they would come.)

[Chuckanut]

I suppose I could try and trap the squirrels on my back deck. Or hunt the dang rabbits that overrun the city in the Spring and Summer. Does anybody have a Joy of Cooking cookbook from the 70's, that actually had instructions for skinning a squirrel?

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I suppose I could try and trap the squirrels on my back deck. Or hunt the dang rabbits that overrun the city in the Spring and Summer. Does anybody have a Joy of Cooking cookbook from the 70's, that actually had instructions for skinning a squirrel?

Hmm! Well, actually my Joy of Cooking was a Christmas present from my mom, back around 1964 or so. But oh, doggone, somehow it got lost between then and now. Oh well, good luck on that!

[Another Reader]

I have the family copy, but no squirrel recipes. Mid 60's is about right.

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I suppose I could try and trap the squirrels on my back deck. Or hunt the dang rabbits that overrun the city in the Spring and Summer. Does anybody have a Joy of Cooking cookbook from the 70's, that actually had instructions for skinning a squirrel?

Bass Pro Shop to the rescue. https://1source.basspro.com/news-tip...-picture-guide

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet Florida and most of the rest of the South had horrible rate and death peaks a couple months ago. Their deaths/capita have been really bad compared to anywhere but New York and New Jersey at the very beginning. I think their rates are low at this point because pretty much everyone unvaccinated got infected recently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by harllee Florida may have lower rates now but back in the summer when Floridians had to go inside in the air conditioning their rates where much higher. I think the key is to try to avoid inside spaces with little ventilation.

And Floridians were excoriated at the time, set up as an international example of failure. It was unfair.