Category Archives: Coronavirus

What is ‘stealth Omicron’? The rise of the subvariant is alarming some scientists who say it needs its own Greek letter

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The Omicron subvariant BA.2, nicknamed the “stealth Omicron,” appears to be outpacing other substrains of Omicron in some regions of the world, raising fears that the even more transmissible version of Omicron could spark larger COVID-19 waves globally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that Omicron, which is also referred to as B.1.1.529, has three main substrains: BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3. As of Dec. 23, the WHO reported that over 99% of the cases it sequenced were BA.1. But now the rise of BA.2 in Denmark and elsewhere suggests that BA.2 may outcompete BA.1.

On Thursday, Denmark reported that the BA.2 substrain of Omicron accounts for almost half of the country’s cases and is quickly displacing BA.1, the original Omicron strain. Denmark reported that in the two weeks from late December to mid-January, BA.2 has gone from accounting for 20% of Denmark’s COVID-19 infections to making up 45%. Over that same period, Denmark’s COVID infections have shot to record highs. Denmark is recording over 30,000 new cases per day this week, 10 times more cases than peaks in previous waves.

Denmark’s government also said the strain is spreading quickly in countries like the U.K., Norway, and Sweden. Meanwhile, scientists in places like France and India warn that the BA.2 variant is quickly spreading and may outpace other Omicron strains.

But Danish authorities also urged the public to not read too much into BA.2’s rise at this point.

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The CDC updated its mask guidelines. What to know about ‘the highest level of protection’

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its mask guidelines to recommend that people “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.” The agency describes well-fitting respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) — such as N95 masks — as offering “the highest level of protection.”

3M Co. 8210Plus N95 particulate respirator

The updated guidelines come after many public health experts have been recommending for months that people wear more effective masks — particularly N95s — and that the CDC change its guidelines on mask-wearing.

“Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There’s no place for them in light of Omicron, Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, recently said.”

In crowded places, “you should be wearing a KN95 or N95 mask,” which can cost a few dollars each, Wen added. Due to certain materials — such as polypropylene fibers — acting as both mechanical and electrostatic barriers, these masks better prevent tiny particles from getting into your nose or mouth and must be fitted to your face to function properly.

Here’s what you need to know about masks like N95s, where to get them and how to use them safely.

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COVID: new ‘Deltacron’ coronavirus variant discovered in Cyprus

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A new variant has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, together with 10 mutations from Omicron.

People wait outside a vaccination centre, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Limassol, Cyprus May 4, 2021

A new coronavirus variant nicknamed “Deltacron” has been discovered in Cyprus, local media reported on Saturday.

The variant has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron, explained Dr. Leondios Kostrikis, the head of the laboratory of biotechnology and molecular virology at the University of Cyprus, according to the Cyprus Mail.

In total, 10 of the mutations from Omicron were found in the 25 samples taken in Cyprus. 11 of the samples came from people who were hospitalized due to the virus, while 14 came from the general population.

Kostrikis theorized that the fact that the frequency of the mutation among hospitalized patients was higher could point to a correlation between the new variant and hospitalizations.

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5 MILLION could skip work next week with COVID, putting strain on businesses and transport

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  • The US recorded 900,832 new COVID cases on Friday, the second highest day ever after record set Monday
  • Deaths jumped to 2,615 for the day, a 22% increase from a week ago on a rolling average basis
  • One expert estimates 5 million people in the US may be calling out sick next week, some 3% of the workforce
  • Disruptions are forcing some businesses into de facto lockdown because they lack the staff to operate
  • Most forecasts suggest that the Omicron surge will not peak in the US until late in January
  • Dr. Fauci said on Friday that the US could soon be regularly recording 1 million new cases of COVID each day
  • Explosion of Omicron-fueled infections in the US is already causing a breakdown in basic services

The United States has posted its second-highest daily total for new COVID-19 cases, as one expert predicts some 5 million Americans could call in sick in the coming week in a major disruption to the economy and essential services.

On Friday, the US recorded 900,832 new COVID cases, second only to the more than 1 million cases recorded on Monday. The nation’s four highest caseload days since the start of the pandemic were all recorded in the past week.

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Record broken with 76,887 new cases

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One of three tests were positive on Friday

As omicron surges statewide, Florida reported 76,887 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the
highest daily number of the pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control.

This surpasses the previous record of 75,732 infections set Dec. 30.
The Florida Department of Health reported 397,114 new coronavirus cases this week
among Florida residents to bring the cumulative total to 4,562,954. With 184 more
fatalities on record, 62,688 Florida residents have died.

This week’s 184 deaths reflect an increase from the 162 reported last week, but deaths can
take several days or weeks to be reported. The majority of the newly reported deaths are
people who died before this week.The death count has not reached anywhere near
September levels, where nearly 2,500 new deaths were reported multiple weeks in a row.

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French scientists detect ANOTHER variant linked to Cameroon

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  • Mutant strain has 46 mutations making it more vaccine resistant and infectious
  • But there is little sign that it is outcompeting the dominant Omicron variant
  • Some 12 cases have been spotted to date, linked to travel to Cameroon

Another Covid variant has been found in France, according to scientists.

The mutant strain has 46 mutations that are thought to make it both more vaccine-resistant and infectious than the original virus.

Some 12 cases have been spotted so far near Marseille, with the first linked to travel to the African country Cameroon.

But there is little sign that it is outcompeting the dominant Omicron variant, which now makes up more than 60 per cent of cases in France.

The strain was discovered by academics based at the IHU Mediterranee Infection on December 10, but has not spread rapidly since.

It is yet to be spotted in other countries or labelled a variant under investigation by the World Health Organization.

Professor Philippe Colson, who heads up the unit that discovered the strain, said: ‘We indeed have several cases of this new variant in the Marseille geographical area.

‘We named it “variant IHU”. Two new genomes have just been submitted.’

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NYC will consider race when distributing life-saving COVID treatments

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New York City will take a patient’s race into account when distributing potentially life-saving COVID treatments, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene revealed on their website.

The city will “consider race and ethnicity when assessing individual risk,” reads the agency’s official guidance from Dec. 20, which adds that “longstanding systemic health and social inequities” can contribute to an increased risk of dying from COVID-19.

The guidance applies to both the distribution of monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals like Paxlovid and Molnupiravir.

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