29 November 2021 ⚡️ Omicron variant detected in 22 countries; US response predictable

Biden pushes vaccines; the GOP blames Biden; Trump ally calls Omicron a Democratic hoax; and Ted Cruz slams non-existent "shutdowns"

As of 11:59 pm Monday, 29 November, there are 205 confirmed cases of Omicron and 1,307 probable cases in 22 countries. The horse has left the barn.

Travel bans targeting only Africa are political theatre, particularly when not coupled with preparatory measures, such as in the United States. There are also unintended consequences:

Tulio de Oliveira @Tuliodna

Today, I spent a big part of my day talking to genomic and biotech companies as soon we will run out of reagents as airplanes are not flying to South Africa! It will be 'evil' if we can not answer the questions that the world needs about #Omicron due to the travel ban!

President Biden has made it clear that he does not plan to change the current U.S. course of “please get vaccinated” and “please mask.” Especially due to Monday’s news about a legal challenge to mandates:

A federal judge has blocked President Joe Biden's administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on health care workers in 10 states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement.

However, the CDC is now advising everyone 18 years of age and older to get a COVID vaccine booster if it has been at least six months since completing Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations or two months since getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

GOP politicians and Trump allies continue to infect public discourse with viral misinformation. For example, Biden has not called for lockdowns. But here’s Ted Cruz and FOX News:

Ted Cruz @tedcruz

Enough is enough. America needs to stay open. Joe Biden and the Democrats need to stop threatening shutdowns of our schools and businesses.

Where is COVID-19 striking down Americans? In red counties where vaccination rates trail the national average.

Trump counties (where he won by 20 points or more) have had the most cases on a per capita basis since last year compared with counties that Biden won by 20 points or more. The most deaths. The lowest vaccination rates.

Yet here’s an official GOP statement:

GOP @GOP

Joe Biden promised he would shut down the coronavirus. He failed.

Then there’s the “it’s a Democratic hoax” from Trump ally Ronny Jackson:

Rick Hasen @rickhasen

#ELB: Former White House Physician Ronny Jackson “MAGA Congressman Falsely Claims Omicron Variant Is Part of Plot to Rig 2022 Election”

electionlawblog.orgFormer White House Physician Ronny Jackson “MAGA Congressman Falsely Claims Omicron Variant Is Part of Plot to Rig 2022 Election” | Electio…

America’s reporting on Omicron is as lackluster as antique silver:

This Washington Post “news story” was written by two reporters but makes its editorial position crystal clear not only via the headline but in the fact that no member of the public or any polling organization is quoted in the story.

Instead, the reporters quote politicos spouting opinions (hot air without evidence):

“People are tired. People are just exhausted, having to cope with this time after time after time.” ~ Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive of the National Association of County and City Health Officials

Contrast The WaPost “editorial disguised as news” with The Guardian’s editorial board:

It is incumbent on senior politicians to set an example, allying themselves with scientists... They must also do more to combat vaccine misinformation online … [and counter] the lies with their own words and actions.

The pandemic is not over... Along with delivering boosters, boosting the vaccination rate must now be the government’s domestic priority – while internationally, it should do everything it can to promote efforts to vaccinate the world (emphasis added).

The Washington Post editorial board also called for “accelerat[ing] vaccination in the United States and worldwide.” It praised South African research and leadership and noted: “For this stellar and generous performance, South Africa was met with the sound of doors slamming shut.”

🦠 Context: Omicron

One state is being proactive: Gov. Kathy Hochul (NY-D) has declared a state of emergency which helps the state to prepare for a surge by purchasing additional supplies and allowing hospitals to postpone nonessential procedures.

Transmission, Israel:

Gabriel Hébert-Rouillier 🎅 @Gab_H_R

Israel is now reporting community transmission of Omicron from a cardiologist with 3 doses to another cardiologist with 3 doses ⚠️ Via @FanCpixie

כאן חדשות @kann_news

פרסום ראשון: קרדיולוג נוסף, כבן 70, נדבק מהקרדיולוג המאומת מביה"ח שיבא, אשר יש חשד לגביו שהוא נשא של וריאנט אומיקרון - שניהם מחוסנים ב-3 מנות. החולה הראשון חזר מכנס באנגליה ביום רביעי האחרון, ועד שחש תסמינים ונבדק ביצע 7 צנתורים וביקר בשני כנסים נוספים @kettydor

Transmission, Hong Kong: Nicholas A. Christakis, physician and Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale, reported on Twitter that “two guests *already in quarantine in Hong Kong* appear to have transmitted omicron variant when one guest briefly opened his door to the hallway un-masked on November 13 or 14, and the virus floated into the room across the hall.”

Read his comprehensive overview written mid-day Monday.

Transmission, South Africa:

Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab

Monitoring wastewater for viral load estimates outbreak size In just a few weeks, in Pretoria S. Africa (north of Johannesburg) viral load detected in wastewater has reached similar levels as the peak of Delta This at least indicates that transmission may be remarkably swift

Positivity rate, South Africa: In a 24-hour period Sunday-Monday, South Africa conducted 21,302 tests. The result: 2,273 new cases, which represents a 10.7% positivity rate.

Hospitalizations, South Africa: Children under the age of two are accounting for about 10% of total hospital admissions in Tshwane, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. “A similar trend occurred during the third wave when delta was dominant, said Waasila Jassat, public health specialist at the Institute.”

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🌎 Countries where Omicron has been detected

Genomic testing has led to the Omicron variant’s being reported in Australia, Austria (29 Nov), Belgium, Botswana (first sample, 11 November 2021), Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland (29 Nov, probable), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan (29 Nov, probable), the Czech Republic (CNN), the Netherlands, Portugal (29 Nov), Scotland (Guardian), Spain (29 Nov), South Africa (14 November 2021), Sweden (29 Nov) and Switzerland (29 Nov, probable).

As of midnight Monday:

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