Which is a good news. The hope is that Omicron is less severe and will have a lower Case Fatality Rate than earlier variants.
Let's take a look at the latest Omicron news from the U.K. Omicron to be dominant variant in London in next 48 hours - health minister https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/om...don-next-48-hours-health-minister-2021-12-13/ COVID: First death with Omicron variant has been confirmed in the UK https://www.gentside.co.uk/news/cov...ant-has-been-confirmed-in-the-uk_art8741.html
Omicron now makes up almost 3% of U.S. Covid cases, according to the CDC The omicron variant is spreading in the U.S. and now represents 3% of Covid samples analyzed in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A week prior, the variant represented less than 1% of samples analyzed by the CDC. The United Kingdom issued a level 4 Covid alert on Sunday, a step below the highest warning level.
And as seen elsewhere Omicron will spread quickly... Omicron is spreading faster than any other Covid variant, WHO warns https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/14/who...te-not-seen-with-any-other-covid-variant.html “Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Covid update in Geneva “The reality is that omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet,” he said. Tedros said vaccines alone will not protect against omicron. He called for countries to use masks, social distancing, proper ventilation and hand hygiene to prevent contagion.
This (and other instances) of Omicron spread among highly vaccinated populations is very concerning. It shows that Omicron is vaccine evasive in regards to infection but still prevents severe Covid since all the cases are mild among the vaccinated. Cornell University reports more than 900 Covid-19 cases this week. Many are Omicron variant cases in fully vaccinated students https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/us/cornell-university-covid-cases/index.html Tags: COVIDOMICRON
Most at Cornell are vaccinated including employees. In addition, those that are not vaccinated are required to wear face masks at all times especially indoors, or risk being disciplined (e.g. expelled). You know the vaccinology statistics...if you have near 100% vaccinated...only the vaccinated can be infected. Same statistics for airline travelers...100% vaccinated...only the vaccinated can be infected because those not vaccinated are not allowed on the plane. A faculty member that's a close friend (we were roommates for one year in college), he said they're shutting down and students will take their exams online. In fact, its final exam week right now until Saturday. Sadly, the recognition ceremony for fall graduates (it's a big deal and a big one) is closing too. Yet, compared to other Universities, Cornell has excellent testing and excellent contact tracing that works closely with the Tompkins County Public Health Department. Further, its like a bubble there in that visitors and guests are not allowed on campus. wrbtrader
How can the vaccinated be infected at all? How many polio break through cases were there in 2021? How about Measles? Mumps?
The world -- except for a few very remote locations -- has herd immunity to polio, measles, and mumps because nearly 100% of the world population is vaccinated against these diseases. We need to have the same world-wide vaccination level for Covid to reach herd immunity and avoid outbreaks. You also need to understand the breakthrough vaccination rate for measles and mumps is above 3% in a population with high prevalence of the disease which is much higher than the 0.5% maximum vaccinated breakthrough rate we are seeing with Covid. Of course, Omicron may make this Covid vaccinated breakthrough rate go up.