#omicron — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.europesays.com/ie/369252/ Long COVID taste loss tied to reduced expression of key taste genes #appetite #Cell #Coronavirus #Covid19 #Éire #Frequency #Genes #Health #IE #inflammation #Ireland #Nerve #Omicron #Pandemic #Receptor #Research #Respiratory #SARS #SarsCov2 #SevereAcuteRespiratory #SevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome #Syndrome #TasteReceptor #virus

CF Premiere: Omicron – Memory Hole

From Perth, Australia, we introduce Omicron, who returns with a new single titled Memory Hole, a release that stands out both for its sonic proposal and for its highly suggestive visual artwork, filled with trippy and introspective elements. The project inhabits a space where memory, perception, and time intersect, with its imagery already hinting at an emotional and mental exploration that directly dialogues with the track itself.

https://soundcloud.com/clubfuriess/cfp-omicron-memory

Sonically, this piece stands as one of our favorites within the Electro spectrum. Power, electricity, and attitude are combined with remarkable precision, embedding halos of nostalgia that do not remain trapped in the past, but instead unfold into temporal projections toward possible futures, built upon previously lived pessimisms. The track develops with clear talent, featuring layered sound design executed with great skill, resulting in a perfectly assembled structure from start to finish.

All of this leads to a sonic synthesis that seamlessly blends every element into a cohesive whole, allowing the track to settle and expand across space and time. Memory Hole is not merely heard—it inhabits the environment, seeps into the atmosphere, and lingers, like a persistent echo that refuses to fade, becoming eternal both in sound and in the sensory experience it creates.

Artist: Omicron
Title: Memory Hole
Label: Self-released

Release Date: January 30th, 2026
Support & Buy: Bandcamp

Omicron

SoundCloud | Instagram | Bandcamp | Linktree

Club Furies

Website | SoundCloud | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Facebook | Bandcamp | Linktree

CF Premiere: Omicron – Memory Hole

From Perth, Australia, we introduce Omicron, who returns with a new single titled Memory Hole, a release that stands out both for its sonic proposal and for its highly suggestive visual artwork, filled with trippy and introspective elements. The project inhabits a space where memory, perception, and time intersect, with its imagery already hinting at an emotional and mental exploration that directly dialogues with the track itself.

https://soundcloud.com/clubfuriess/cfp-omicron-memory

Sonically, this piece stands as one of our favorites within the Electro spectrum. Power, electricity, and attitude are combined with remarkable precision, embedding halos of nostalgia that do not remain trapped in the past, but instead unfold into temporal projections toward possible futures, built upon previously lived pessimisms. The track develops with clear talent, featuring layered sound design executed with great skill, resulting in a perfectly assembled structure from start to finish.

All of this leads to a sonic synthesis that seamlessly blends every element into a cohesive whole, allowing the track to settle and expand across space and time. Memory Hole is not merely heard—it inhabits the environment, seeps into the atmosphere, and lingers, like a persistent echo that refuses to fade, becoming eternal both in sound and in the sensory experience it creates.

Artist: Omicron
Title: Memory Hole
Label: Self-released

Release Date: January 30th, 2026
Support & Buy: Bandcamp

Omicron

SoundCloud | Instagram | Bandcamp | Linktree

Club Furies

Website | SoundCloud | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Facebook | Bandcamp | Linktree

CF Premiere: Omicron – Memory Hole

From Perth, Australia, we introduce Omicron, who returns with a new single titled Memory Hole, a release that stands out both for its sonic proposal and for its highly suggestive visual artwork, filled with trippy and introspective elements. The project inhabits a space where memory, perception, and time intersect, with its imagery already hinting at an emotional and mental exploration that directly dialogues with the track itself.

https://soundcloud.com/clubfuriess/cfp-omicron-memory

Sonically, this piece stands as one of our favorites within the Electro spectrum. Power, electricity, and attitude are combined with remarkable precision, embedding halos of nostalgia that do not remain trapped in the past, but instead unfold into temporal projections toward possible futures, built upon previously lived pessimisms. The track develops with clear talent, featuring layered sound design executed with great skill, resulting in a perfectly assembled structure from start to finish.

All of this leads to a sonic synthesis that seamlessly blends every element into a cohesive whole, allowing the track to settle and expand across space and time. Memory Hole is not merely heard—it inhabits the environment, seeps into the atmosphere, and lingers, like a persistent echo that refuses to fade, becoming eternal both in sound and in the sensory experience it creates.

Artist: Omicron
Title: Memory Hole
Label: Self-released

Release Date: January 30th, 2026
Support & Buy: Bandcamp

Omicron

SoundCloud | Instagram | Bandcamp | Linktree

Club Furies

Website | SoundCloud | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Facebook | Bandcamp | Linktree

CF Premiere: Omicron – Memory Hole

From Perth, Australia, we introduce Omicron, who returns with a new single titled Memory Hole, a release that stands out both for its sonic proposal and for its highly suggestive visual artwork, filled with trippy and introspective elements. The project inhabits a space where memory, perception, and time intersect, with its imagery already hinting at an emotional and mental exploration that directly dialogues with the track itself.

https://soundcloud.com/clubfuriess/cfp-omicron-memory

Sonically, this piece stands as one of our favorites within the Electro spectrum. Power, electricity, and attitude are combined with remarkable precision, embedding halos of nostalgia that do not remain trapped in the past, but instead unfold into temporal projections toward possible futures, built upon previously lived pessimisms. The track develops with clear talent, featuring layered sound design executed with great skill, resulting in a perfectly assembled structure from start to finish.

All of this leads to a sonic synthesis that seamlessly blends every element into a cohesive whole, allowing the track to settle and expand across space and time. Memory Hole is not merely heard—it inhabits the environment, seeps into the atmosphere, and lingers, like a persistent echo that refuses to fade, becoming eternal both in sound and in the sensory experience it creates.

Artist: Omicron
Title: Memory Hole
Label: Self-released

Release Date: January 30th, 2026
Support & Buy: Bandcamp

Omicron

SoundCloud | Instagram | Bandcamp | Linktree

Club Furies

Website | SoundCloud | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Facebook | Bandcamp | Linktree

CF Premiere: Omicron – Memory Hole

From Perth, Australia, we introduce Omicron, who returns with a new single titled Memory Hole, a release that stands out both for its sonic proposal and for its highly suggestive visual artwork, filled with trippy and introspective elements. The project inhabits a space where memory, perception, and time intersect, with its imagery already hinting at an emotional and mental exploration that directly dialogues with the track itself.

https://soundcloud.com/clubfuriess/cfp-omicron-memory

Sonically, this piece stands as one of our favorites within the Electro spectrum. Power, electricity, and attitude are combined with remarkable precision, embedding halos of nostalgia that do not remain trapped in the past, but instead unfold into temporal projections toward possible futures, built upon previously lived pessimisms. The track develops with clear talent, featuring layered sound design executed with great skill, resulting in a perfectly assembled structure from start to finish.

All of this leads to a sonic synthesis that seamlessly blends every element into a cohesive whole, allowing the track to settle and expand across space and time. Memory Hole is not merely heard—it inhabits the environment, seeps into the atmosphere, and lingers, like a persistent echo that refuses to fade, becoming eternal both in sound and in the sensory experience it creates.

Artist: Omicron
Title: Memory Hole
Label: Self-released

Release Date: January 30th, 2026
Support & Buy: Bandcamp

Omicron

SoundCloud | Instagram | Bandcamp | Linktree

Club Furies

Website | SoundCloud | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Facebook | Bandcamp | Linktree

Increased #pathogenicity and #transmission of #SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron #XBB.1.9 subvariants, including HK.3 and EG.5.1, relative to BA.2, https://etidiohnew.blogspot.com/2025/11/increased-pathogenicity-and.html

#Pathogenicity of #SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron #Subvariants #JN.1, #KP.2, and #EG.5.1 in K18-hACE2 Transgenic #Mice, https://etidiohnew.blogspot.com/2025/08/pathogenicity-of-sars-cov-2-omicron.html

The World Health Organization has designated NB.1.8.1 as a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring.

FYI The NB.1.8.1 variant is a member of the #Omicron family... https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a64904167/nb181-latest-covid-19-variant/ #COVID19 #COVIDISNOTOVER #WEARAMASK #GETVACCINATED #WHO #VUM #NB181 #cdnpoli #polcan

Respiratory #Shedding of Infectious #SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron #XBB.1.41.1 Lineage among Captive White-Tailed #Deer, #Texas, #USA, https://etidiohnew.blogspot.com/2025/01/respiratory-shedding-of-infectious-sars.html

Corona-Pandemie - Gesundheitsminister Lauterbach weist Vorwürfe zurück

Karl Lauterbach (SPD) weist die Vorwürfe der politischen Einflussnahme auf das Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) während der Corona-Pandemie 2022 zurück.#KarlLauterbach #Omicron #COVID #COVID-19 #CORONA #PANDEMIE #GESUNDHEITSPOLITIK #RobertKochInstitut #RKI
Corona: Gesundheitsminister Lauterbach verteidigt sein Vorgehen

Robust #antiviral humoral #immunity induced by #JN1 monovalent #mRNA #vaccines against a broad range of #SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron subvariants including #JN1, #KP311 and #XEC

Source: BioRxIV, AbstractAs of November 2024, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 subvariants, such as KP.2 (JN.1.11.1.2), KP.3 (JN.1.11.1.3), KP.3.1.1 (JN.1.11.1.3.1.1), and XEC, a recombinant lineage between KS.1.1 (JN.13.1.1.1) and KP.3.3 (JN.1.11.1.3.3), have been circulating in several countries. To control…

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/11/21/robust-antiviral-humoral-immunity-induced-by-jn1-monovalent-mrna-vaccines-against-a-broad-range-of-sars-cov-2-omicron-subvariants-including-jn1-kp311-and-xec/

#SARSCoV2 #antigen rapid detection tests: test performance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of #COVID19vaccination https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00430-4/fulltext “The decline in #RDT sensitivity throughout the pandemic can primarily be attributed to the reduced prevalence of symptomatic infections among vaccinated individuals and individuals infected with #Omicron VOC. RDTs remain valuable for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic individuals and offer potential for detecting other respiratory pathogens”

#Clinical #profile analysis of #SARS-CoV-2 #community #infections during periods with #omicron #BA2, #BA4/5, and #XBB dominance in #HK: a prospective cohort study

Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases, SummaryBackgroundExisting studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection have mainly focused on severe clinical outcomes; understanding of the clinical severity profile of general community infections is poor. We aimed to assess and compare the clinical profiles of infections with…

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/15/clinical-profile-analysis-of-sars-cov-2-community-infections-during-periods-with-omicron-ba2-ba4-5-and-xbb-dominance-in-hk-a-prospective-cohort-study/

#Russia, Rospotrebnadzor warns of rapid #spread of new #COVID strain, https://regnum.ru/news/3917704

The department reported that #XEC is a recombinant of 2 earlier subvariants of #Omicron coronavirus strain — FLiRT — #KS11 & #KP33. Symptoms of new variant are similar to previous ones. Patients complain of fever, sore throat, cough, & loss of smell. Infected people may also experience loss of appetite, body aches, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.

#Russia, Rospotrebnadzor warns of rapid #spread of new #COVID strain, https://regnum.ru/news/3917704

The department reported that #XEC is a recombinant of 2 earlier subvariants of #Omicron coronavirus strain — FLiRT — #KS11 & #KP33. Symptoms of new variant are similar to previous ones. Patients complain of fever, sore throat, cough, & loss of smell. Infected people may also experience loss of appetite, body aches, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.

#Russia, Rospotrebnadzor warns of rapid #spread of new #COVID strain, https://regnum.ru/news/3917704

The department reported that #XEC is a recombinant of 2 earlier subvariants of #Omicron coronavirus strain — FLiRT — #KS11 & #KP33. Symptoms of new variant are similar to previous ones. Patients complain of fever, sore throat, cough, & loss of smell. Infected people may also experience loss of appetite, body aches, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.

#Russia, Rospotrebnadzor warns of rapid #spread of new #COVID strain, https://regnum.ru/news/3917704

The department reported that #XEC is a recombinant of 2 earlier subvariants of #Omicron coronavirus strain — FLiRT — #KS11 & #KP33. Symptoms of new variant are similar to previous ones. Patients complain of fever, sore throat, cough, & loss of smell. Infected people may also experience loss of appetite, body aches, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.

#Russia, Rospotrebnadzor warns of rapid #spread of new #COVID strain, https://regnum.ru/news/3917704

The department reported that #XEC is a recombinant of 2 earlier subvariants of #Omicron coronavirus strain — FLiRT — #KS11 & #KP33. Symptoms of new variant are similar to previous ones. Patients complain of fever, sore throat, cough, & loss of smell. Infected people may also experience loss of appetite, body aches, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.

#SARS-CoV-2 #Delta and #Omicron #variants resist #spike #cleavage by #human #airway trypsin-like #protease https://www.jci.org/articles/view/174304

We demonstrate that the P681R mutation in Delta and P681H mutation in the Omicron variants, adjacent to the R682 cleavage site, contributed to HAT resistance. Our study reports what we believe to be a novel soluble defense factor against SARS-CoV-2 and resistance of its actions in the Delta and Omicron variants.

Profiling #SARS-CoV-2-specific #Tcell response, Lancet Infect Dis. {Correspondence}, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00377-3/fulltext?rss=yes

#Omicron subvariants that escape #antibody-mediated neutralisation are still recognised by cross-reactive T-cells, & should not be considered antigenically distinct by definition. Vaccination with a monovalent #XBB.1.5 vaccine boosted T-cell responses, including T cells that were cross-reactive with #variants that emerged after XBB.1.5.

#Durability of #XBB15 #Vaccines against #Omicron #Subvariants, N Engl J Med.: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2402779?query=TOC&cid=DM2342986_Non_Subscriber&bid=-1971795569

Overall, the XBB.1.5 vaccines were effective against omicron subvariants, although less so against #JN1. Effectiveness was greater against #hospitalization and #death than against infection, and it waned moderately from its peak over time. The ramping and waning patterns were broadly similar to those of the bivalent boosters against BQ.1–BQ.1.1 and XBB–XBB.1.5.3

Relative #vaccine #protection, #disease #severity, and #symptoms associated with the #SarsCoV2 #omicron #subvariant #BA286 and descendant #JN1 in #Denmark: a nationwide observational study https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00220-2/fulltext?rss=yes

Although less effective against the new variants, XBB.1.5 vaccination remains protective and reduces the risk of infection and COVID-19 disease.

[Correspondence] Antiviral humoral #immunity against #SARS-CoV-2 #omicron #subvariants induced by #XBB15 monovalent #vaccine in #infection-naive and XBB-infected individuals https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00784-3/fulltext?rss=yes

#Italy, #Omicron subvariant #BA286 reported at 1.3% of genetically characterized isolates, with #EG5 still prevalent, #DV7 is also under monitoring, https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/covid-iss-variante-dominante-italia-e-eris-51percento-AFbaYJTB #SARS_COV_2 #covid19 #lineages #VUMs

'' #Omicron subvariant #EG5 continues to be predominant in #Italy.'' See also https://www.iss.it/monitoraggio-settimanale/-/asset_publisher/dJSrLJgOqlTV/content/bollettino-24-fase-3?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_assetEntryId=9089985&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iss.it%2Fmonitoraggio-settimanale%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_assetEntryId%3D9089985%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_cur%3D0%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse

''6 Oct. '23 Highlights: * during surveillance week, the incidence of new detected cases of #COVID19 remained low and overall stable. * #Impact on #healthcare system, especially #ICUs was limited. * Predominance of #omicron #XBB lineages was confirmed, especially with #EG5 subvariant, similarly other European regions.'' #surveillance #italy #SARS_COV_2

#Italy, 29 Sept. '23 {#COVD19 Weekly Summary}: cases' growth rate showed a further decrease compared last week, and overall activity remains low. Impact of health care system is limited. #Omicron lineages #XBB are predominant, with the majority of characterized viruses belonging to #EG5 subvariant. Epidemic situation is in line with the that observed in the European Region.'' Full update: https://www.iss.it/monitoraggio-settimanale/-/asset_publisher/dJSrLJgOqlTV/content/bollettino-21-fase-3?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_assetEntryId=9039100&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iss.it%2Fmonitoraggio-settimanale%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_assetEntryId%3D9039100%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_dJSrLJgOqlTV_cur%3D0%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse

Impaired neutralizing #antibody #efficacy of #tixagevimab-cilgavimab 150+150 mg as pre-exposure #prophylaxis against #Omicron #BA5. A real-world experience in booster vaccinated immunocompromised patients, J Clin Virol.: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2023.105584 #reseach #science #medicine #mAbs #betacoronavirus #sarbecovirus #covid19

Updated COVID boosters get green light from FDA ahead of CDC review - Enlarge / The Food and Drug Administration headquarters in White Oak, M... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1967187 #pfizer/biontech #mrnavaccine #sars-cov-2 #boosters #covid-19 #fallshot #vaccines #science #moderna #novavax #omicron #health #pfizer #cdc #fda

BA.2.86 fears fizzle as other variants drive up hospitalizations, deaths - Enlarge (credit: Getty | Justin Sullivan)

Concern over the hig... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1966041 #sars-cov-2 #subvariant #boosters #covid-19 #pandemic #vaccines #science #ba.2.86 #omicron #xbb.1.5 #health #eg.5 #who

#Neutralization, effector function and immune #imprinting of #Omicron #variants, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06487-6 #research #immunity #SARS_CoV_2

#Neutralization, effector function and immune #imprinting of #Omicron #variants, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06487-6 #research #immunity #SARS_CoV_2

#China, #COVID19 is still the number one infectious #disease in #Beijing, said Beijing health officials on Thursday, noting that
#EG5, a #sublineage of the #Omicron variant, is currently the dominant strain across China, accounting for over 70 percent of COVID-19 infections. GT: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296937.shtml #pandemic #SARS_CoV_2 #news #surveillance

Promoting to @novid

❗️Important information about the new Pirola mutation and what it means for Fall boosters.

Bottom line: WEAR A MASK

H/T @chargrille

#COVID #Eris #EG5 #Pirola #BA286 #Omicron #COVIDIsNotOver #WearAMask https://progressives.social/@chargrille/110920207142699237

New SARS-CoV-2 variant gains dominance in US amid mild summer COVID wave - Enlarge (credit: Getty | Thomas Trutschel)

For a fourth consec... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1959483 #hospitalizations #testpositivity #seasonality #sars-cov-2 #subvariant #wastewater #covid-19 #pandemic #vaccines #omicron #health #deaths #summer #cdc #fda

Global News BC: B.C. preparing for fall rollout of new Omicron COVID-19 vaccine https://globalnews.ca/news/9828362/bc-covid-booster-fall-omicron-henry/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Dr.BonnieHenry #Omicronvariant #COVIDbooster #BonnieHenry #COVIDupdate #COVIDshot #COVID-19 #Booster #Omicron #Health #COVID #naci

Annual? Bivalent? For all? Future of COVID shots murky after FDA deliberations - Enlarge / Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluat... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1913210 #covid-19vaccines #subvariants #sars-cov-2 #covid-19 #science #omicron #vaccine #fda

Today is the third anniversary of the first confirmed #Covid-19 case in the US. As good a day as any to write a long and rambly essay about the current state of the nineteenth crow. I’m going to begin and end on a personal note, with some #science in the middle.

Almost my entire adult life has been dedicated to keeping people alive. I became a #medic for a number of reasons, but most directly because a friend was murdered: if there was any way I could keep another close circle of young, healthy people with a reasonable expectation of living for decades more from having to gather to mourn one of their own, I would.

So. First as a medic, then a #biotech #programmer, and now a #bioinformatics #researcher, my goal has been quite consistent. Everyone dies—but if we can claw back just a little more time, a few more years or days or hours, that is a victory in the war that never ends. As my fiancee says in another context, a slap in the face of a forgetful future. Only our deeds live after us. There is no greater deed than life itself.

For all that time, I’ve known there was another #plague coming. It was inevitable. One aspect of the medic’s war is the arms race, and pathogens have one hell of an R&D program. We can win skirmishes, and sometimes battles, and occasionally even a campaign. They’ll keep coming back, with mindless determination and terrifying numbers.

What I didn’t know, couldn’t even imagine, was what the primary obstacle to that particular phase of the war would be. I thought the challenges would be technical: spotting the #outbreak, identifying the #pathogen, learning its strengths and weaknesses, developing preventions and treatments, getting #medicine out to where it’s needed most. You know, science stuff.

Those are all challenges with covid, to be sure. But it turns the biggest problem is willful, deliberate, self-imposed, homicidal and suicidal stupidity.

I’ve written at length about my opinions of #antimaskers and #antivaxers, and no doubt I will again. The short version is, they’re traitors to humanity. I’ve given up trying to reason with them. Best to concentrate on what I can control: my own work, the knowledge I gain from others in the field, and the information I provide to people who are willing to listen. Eventually the traitors will benefit too, however little they deserve it.

Okay, on to the facts. The data I’ll be discussing are #US-centric. I live here, it’s my primary area of concern, and it’s what I know the most about. Readers in other countries, please feel free to comment on similarities and differences.

1. There were massive spikes in January 2021 and January 2022: here is a nice visualization. At the peaks, 2022’s spike was more than three times as bad as 2021’s. On the other hand, there were only (only!) about three-quarters as many deaths in 2022. I suspect there are a few things going on here:

   • New Year’s celebrations both years, but especially in 2022, packed a lot of people together in small spaces. This is of course a recipe for mass infection.

   • Prevalence of the omicron strain in 2022, which is generally more infectious but less lethal than other strains.

   • More masks in 2021, preventing infection but doing nothing to reduce severity, compared to much more #vaccination but fewer #masks in 2022.

2. As of September, Republicans were dying of covid almost twice as fast as Democrats, controlling for age. Of course it’s not being a Republican that kills you: it’s not being #vaccinated. Antivax has become an ideological purity test for a substantial portion of the Republican Party, and those who try to both-sides this issue have their heads buried so far in the sand they’re hitting bedrock.

3. New #variants haven’t been much in the news lately. That’s not because #SARS-CoV-2 has stopped mutating. It’s because what we call #omicron has now mutated so much that it now has more genetic diversity than all the others put together. Tracking variants by letter made sense in the early stages of the pandemic, but now we could go through the entire Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Arabic, and every other alphabet and still run out. As a practical matter, this means we’ll need at-least-annual #booster shots forever.

4. In June 2022, we passed a little-remarked milestone: total US covid deaths in people under 30 surpassed total US #military deaths in #Afghanistan and #Iraq, in a similar demographic over a much shorter time. Older people are more likely to die of covid, sure. Older people are more likely to die of everything. Youth will not save you.

There is some good news. The January spikes mentioned in item #1 seem so far not to be materializing this year, although we’ll have to wait until the data for the entire month have been sifted to be sure. I doubt people are getting any more careful, but 70-80% of the US population is vaccinated, depending on how you count: maybe that’s enough for a meaningful degree of herd #immunity.

Older #vaccines aren’t as effective against newer strains as newer vaccines tailored to those #strains, but they still help. With any vaccination on board, you’re less likely to get infected, and less likely to die if you do. Keep getting boosters, and your #immune system will build up a kind of library: “oh, this isn’t exactly like anything I’ve seen before, but it looks kind of like this thing I read about, so …”

We can’t make antivaxers go away. They’ll always be there, acting as a reservoir for infection and a breeding ground for new strains. Sure, they’ll die at a much higher rate, but more of them will live, largely thanks to the heroic efforts of the science they reject. What we can do, to a degree, is work around them.

Back to the personal.

I’ve lost a few friends, and I know many people who have lost family, to #antimask / #antivax lunacy. I understand the pain and anger and confusion. Stay strong. Maybe one day before we’re all dead, this will be over and reconciliation will be possible, if we choose to extend such grace. Not today, and not for a long time to come.

Any person, any family, any circle of friends, any gathering, any business, any government … all are more than justified in exiling these traitors forever. When they are those we love, grief is inevitable. But the people we loved are already dead. Our job is to avoid joining them.

Let’s be careful out there.

"So, this new Covid variant..."
"What, the ultra-transmissable Omicron subvariant?"
"That's the one. Such a shame we can't assign a Greek letter to it like the rest."
"Because it's a subvariant? Yes. Well, why don't we just come up with some other kind of nickname for it?"
"Capital idea! Now, we'd better pick something innocuous, you know, don't want to cause any kind of panic."
"Good point. How about... 'The Kraken'?"
"Perfect."

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-new-kraken-coronavirus-variant-25957040

#Covid #Kraken #Omicron #Subvariant

XBB.1.5: Still more questions than answers on risk of latest omicron subvariant - Enlarge / A CDC COVID-19 variant testing site inside Tom Bradley Intern... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1909381 #infectiousdisease #publichealth #coronavirus #sars-cov-2 #subvariant #covid-19 #science #omicron #xbb.1.5 #ecdc #cdc #who

XBB.1.5—unofficially nicknamed #Kraken by some scientists online, is an #Omicron #subvariant that has caught attention of virologists in recent wks because of its significant advantage in how fast it spreads. Research by #computational #virologist Trevor Bedford #FredHutchinsonCancerCenter in Seattle suggests #XBB15 currently has a reproduction number of around 1.6, meaning every person infected by this #subvariant will on average, go on to infect about 1.6 other people. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-covids-xbb-1-5-kraken-variant-is-so-contagious/

The #Biden administration on Wednesday extended the #COVID-19 #publichealthemergency until April as “#Kraken” #XBB.1.5, the most transmissible #Omicron variant seen yet, drives cases #upward.
The public health emergency has been extended every 90 days since 2020.
#ItIsNotOver #kraken #Omicron #PublicHealthProtection

https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/11/biden-administration-extends-covid-public-health-emergency/

''#BQ1 and #XBB are new #subvariants of #Omicron which have become the dominant strains in some overseas countries and regions for their increased #transmissibility and immune escape capacity. ''

#China, #Shanghai has detected the #Omicron #subvariants #BQ1 and #XBB that have been prevailing in some overseas countries but experts said 2 strains were found in imported cases placed under closed-loop management which has not caused local #transmission, saying there is no need to hoard Montmorillonite {?} powder to relieve #diarrhea that can be caused by subvariant #XBB15. GT: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283058.shtml

Subvariants spreading "....like shrapnel."

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRq6S71F/

#Covid19
#SARSCoV
#Omicron #subvariants

Three currently circulating #omicron #subvariants of #SARS-CoV-2 – including two that currently make up almost 50% of reported #COVID-19 infections in the U.S. – are better at evading #vaccine and infection-generated neutralizing #antibodies than earlier versions of omicron, new research suggests.
#COVID19 #Virology #Microbiology #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2022/11/vi11222202.html

Bivalent booster is 4x better against BA.5 in older adults, Pfizer says - Enlarge (credit: Getty | Future Publishing)

The new bivalent C... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1895502 #infectiousdisease #antibodylevels #publichealth #olderadults #sublineages #subvariants #vaccination #antibodies #sars-cov-2 #biontech #bivalent #covid-19 #medicine #vaccines #science #biology #booster #omicron #viruses #bq.1.1 #pfizer #ba.4 #ba.5 #bq.1