Change to inbound testing foreshadowed

[gerefan2]

First it was the UK variant and some people panicked.
Second it was the Delta variant and more people panicked.
Now it is the Omigod variant and the whole world is panicking.

[Manforallseasons]

At first steps situation with omicron looks like the best what can be with humans now. As per doctor from South Africa omicron looks like easy flu with "extremely mild symptoms". If it will substitute Delta, then life will be very easy. Few days of be tired + headache.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-59450988

It will take a couple of weeks to see how the new variant will respond to antibodies from previously infected people and what effect vaccines will have in the variant.

[Dodger]

I don't know who's ejaculating more over this new variant - the news media, or the pharmaceutical industry. But in any event, it's definitely not something worth panicking about...at least I'm not.

The world is in a lot better position to combat these virus's than it was 19 months ago - with vaccine manufacturers and global supply-chains fully developed...increased testing and treatment capacities...and a good percentage of people already fully vaccinated.

They don't know how effective the vaccines we have now are against this new variant, but all indications are, at least from comments coming from some of the leading scientists and epidemiologists, we're probably on pretty safe ground.

Looking at the covid death rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, it's clear (at least to me) that unless you're in a "very high risk" category, you really don't have too much to worry about.

Example - England:

England reported 51,000 deaths due to covid between the months of January and July 2021. Of those, there were only 256 people who died (0.5%) who had been fully vaccinated, and the majority of those were ranked in the "Very High Risk" category. In-other-words - 99.5% of all reported deaths were people who were not fully vaccinated.

Unless you're in a very high risk category, or an anti-vaxer, the worst thing that's going to happen is you may get sick for a week or so if you contact the virus. Who in the hell is going to lose any sleep over that - let alone start panicking and changing vacation plans?

[Gaybutton]

you really don't have too much to worry about.

While that may be correct, that is not the problem. The problem is how the Thai powers-that-be will respond. So far, when they do respond it is often knee-jerk reactions that have not been thought through and include more difficulties for international tourists, more delays in permitting the bars to open, more imposed restrictions, etc. We've been through quarantines, lockdowns, curfews, sandbox schemes, restrictions, and closings.

I hope this new variant won't inspire more of the same.

[Dodger]

The problem is how the Thai powers-that-be will respond. So far, when they do respond it is often knee-jerk reactions that have not been thought through and include more difficulties for international tourists, more delays in permitting the bars to open, more imposed restrictions, etc. We've been through quarantines, lockdowns, curfews, sandbox schemes, restrictions, and closings.

Totally agree.

I can hear their knees-jerking as we speak.

[goji]

At first steps situation with omicron looks like the best what can be with humans now. As per doctor from South Africa omicron looks like easy flu with "extremely mild symptoms". If it will substitute Delta, then life will be very easy. Few days of be tired + headache.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-59450988

I'd be wary of quotes from doctors based on small sample sizes. Most people also get mild symptoms with delta and some only know they have it after failing tests.