It might be more transmissible but it might not.
It might be more severe but it might not.
So that clears it up, wait for the science.
https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1466376465990180864?t=KaP4qgazZM4Tdfrbm7rUXQ&s=19
Today it's risk off.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-emerging-picture-from-south-africa-suggests-omicron-variant-could-be-real-cause-for-concern-12484064?s=09
There's been a narrative pushed all weekend that omicron is somehow milder based on nothing more than an anecdotal statement by 1 doctor. It's been pushed hard on the financial sites, the market is getting ready to dump and the first hospitalizations due to omicron in Europe will likely trigger it.
You don't get hospitalized as soon as you develop symptoms it takes days for complications to set in.
Is it possible that the virus could mutate to be more benign, yes but it's unlikely so early after it's introduction to humans. Many diseases never become less dangerous, there's no ebola lite.
Besides, deltais still wreaking havoc in Europe.
They aren't particularly chirpy about the situation
BBC News - Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59484322
They were discussing getting the NHS to provide PCR for travellers on the BBC. Why should the tax payer foot the bill for people wanting to indulge in leisure travel in the middle of a pandemic. If the airlines are that concerned how about they set up their own labs and provide testing at cost to get @rses on seats.
The flight ban only came into effect 4 days ago and they're already worried about reagents supply in South Africa, how little did they have on hand in the first place? This tweet is from the people who identified omicron.
https://twitter.com/Tuliodna/status/1465389873611915275?t=SwJaRxZGDOTdmFjOuilp_A&s=19
You've got to wonder exactly how transmissible this variant is based on 1 player infecting 13 others in short order. That's approaching measles levels of transmission.
No wonder the government has panicked and reduced the booster interval to 3 months. Most under 40s have only recently had their 2nd dose and none of them had AZ which is already known to struggle against infection after only 3 months. That reminds me, time to book my booster
It's actually 32c now, early doors though and these things can change. Whichever way, euro bourses may open up but I can't see how any of the weekends news is good for airlines etc which were already trading at inflated valuations. Regardless, PCR fit to fly is back in the UK. More money for NCYT.