RE: Covid is returning11 Dec 2023 09:59
Not to bore the board with a verbatim repeat of a perfectly well composed, scientifically correct, and uncontroversial reply to Alpha-Dog and more specifically the trader's post that said we were seeing the birth of a new and more dangerous variant, a comment which has been taken down ( thanks Fruits or Td ) but here's the precis.
1. JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the BA.2.86 Omicron variant. BA.2.86 was classified as a new VoC in September. No new guidance has been added for JN.1
2. We don't know if JN.1 is more deadly - but it is increasing and that means it is more infectious than its parent.
3. This is the respiratory virus season. And as it gets colder and people socialise more in indoor settings we can expect infections, hospitalisations and deaths to increase across the board
4. Alpha is exactly right that people who are eligible need to get their vaccine boosters. Looking into this it seems that in the UK, in the 65 and over, and vulnerable categories that are eligible for a jab only 50% have taken it up. That IS very worrying as our protection is slipping, and whilst the general population can still expect to not die if they catch Covid - over 65s and vulnerable are at much greater risk. When I had it in September - less than a week after my booster and before it was protecting me - I was pretty sick - and anecdotally it seems people are having a harder time now. This is almost certainly due to waning immunity.
Erid Fegel Ding's " Italy has surged 10x since the summer " is a meaningless stat and the latest Our World in Data slide for Italy deaths shows that if there is a surge in fections - deaths are continuing to fall. This will most likely change if Italy's booster levels in the vulnerable and elderly are as poor as ours.
https://twitter.com/PennyHarda99599/status/1733157654338367620/photo/1
Finally - if possible I'd still like an answer to the slide about Synairgen reducing detection of disease to one hour compared to one day. I know who said this but don't know what it relates to ?