Possible new international travel rules regarding Covid-19 testing

[Ecuadog]

I got this from The Washington Post.

"The Biden administration is preparing stricter testing requirements for all travelers entering the United States, including returning Americans, to curb the spread of the potentially dangerous omicron variant, according to three federal health officials.

As part of an enhanced winter covid strategy Biden is expected to announce Thursday, U.S. officials would require everyone entering the country to be tested ​one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country of departure. Administration officials are also considering a requirement that all travelers get retested within three to five days of arrival.

In addition, they are debating a controversial proposal to require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for seven days, even if their test results are negative. Those who flout the requirements might be subject to fines and penalties, the first time such penalties would be linked to testing and quarantine measures for travelers in the United States.​"​

[Dana1963]

What we need is for everyone to finally, possibly, maybe take this seriously. At the beginning it started with ONE case identified in Seattle 2020, 22 months later we’re still in this predicament.

[Two Bills]

Don't be caught without toilet paper this Christmas.
Stock up now if down to last 100 rolls!:icon_wink:

[JMintzer]

Just via flights?

[golfing eagles]

What we need is for everyone to finally, possibly, maybe take this seriously. At the beginning it started with ONE case identified in Seattle 2020, 22 months later we’re still in this predicament.

It ALWAYS starts with one case (patient zero), even the black death. The difference is that we have a proven way to mitigate the spread of this virus, yet 100 million adult Americans refuse to get vaccinated.

[Bjeanj]

This is why I’m going to travel the USA and see things I haven’t seen yet. Went to the Grand Canyon, will go to see Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc etc. There are plenty of things to see without leaving the US. I want to make sure I can get back home if I travel.

All I can think of right now is “what if I go overseas and I am stuck there?” I’ve gotten both Moderna vaccines plus the booster. Hard to make plans now, anyway.

[ThirdOfFive]

What we need is for everyone to finally, possibly, maybe take this seriously. At the beginning it started with ONE case identified in Seattle 2020, 22 months later we’re still in this predicament.
I beg to differ. What we finally need to do is to abandon assuming the fetal position under the nearest bed every time a news article mentions COVID.

[golfing eagles]

I got this from The Washington Post.

"The Biden administration is preparing stricter testing requirements for all travelers entering the United States, including returning Americans, to curb the spread of the potentially dangerous omicron variant, according to three federal health officials.

As part of an enhanced winter covid strategy Biden is expected to announce Thursday, U.S. officials would require everyone entering the country to be tested ​one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country of departure. Administration officials are also considering a requirement that all travelers get retested within three to five days of arrival.

In addition, they are debating a controversial proposal to require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for seven days, even if their test results are negative. Those who flout the requirements might be subject to fines and penalties, the first time such penalties would be linked to testing and quarantine measures for travelers in the United States.​"​

Seems a bit Draconian, so it makes me wonder what "they" know that hasn't been made public

[Papa_lecki]

It ALWAYS starts with one case (patient zero), even the black death. The difference is that we have a proven way to mitigate the spread of this virus, yet 100 million adult Americans refuse to get vaccinated.

“Moderna’s CEO predicted Tuesday that existing coronavirus vaccines would be much less effective at combating omicron compared with previous COVID-19 variants” (Seattle Times)

“ The Omi*cron vari*ant of the Covid-19 virus could lead to more in*fec*tions among vac*ci*nated peo*ple, ac*cord*ing to sev*eral sci*en*tists, but some said there were rea*sons to be*lieve the shots would pro*tect against se*vere dis*ease.” (Wall Street Journal)

[MDLNB]

:blahblahblah::mornincoffee:
Nothing to see here. What else is new? Just more attempt to cause hysteria and take more control. Even Fauci said the new version seems to be milder than the old and less dangerous. If anything, this is too little and too late. :popcorn:

[golfing eagles]

“Moderna’s CEO predicted Tuesday that existing coronavirus vaccines would be much less effective at combating omicron compared with previous COVID-19 variants” (Seattle Times)

“ The Omi*cron vari*ant of the Covid-19 virus could lead to more in*fec*tions among vac*ci*nated peo*ple, ac*cord*ing to sev*eral sci*en*tists, but some said there were rea*sons to be*lieve the shots would pro*tect against se*vere dis*ease.” (Wall Street Journal)

:blahblahblah::mornincoffee:
Nothing to see here. What else is new? Just more attempt to cause hysteria and take more control. Even Fauci said the new version seems to be milder than the old and less dangerous. If anything, this is too little and too late. :popcorn:

So once again, who should we believe?
Search the internet and you'll find some citation that supports your individual beliefs, no matter how bizarre they might be.
Meanwhile, I like the opinion of the taxi driver with an IQ of 70 that the TV news interviewed. He was of the opinion that by the time they identified a new variant and put travel restrictions in place, the genie was already out of the bottle. How right he is!!!!!

[jdulej]

“Moderna’s CEO predicted Tuesday that existing coronavirus vaccines would be much less effective at combating omicron compared with previous COVID-19 variants” (Seattle Times)

“ The Omi*cron vari*ant of the Covid-19 virus could lead to more in*fec*tions among vac*ci*nated peo*ple, ac*cord*ing to sev*eral sci*en*tists, but some said there were rea*sons to be*lieve the shots would pro*tect against se*vere dis*ease.” (Wall Street Journal)

What's with all the "*"s? Anyway, remember, these drug companies are making billions upon billions off this pandemic. It is in their interest for a new variant to require something in addition to what is currently available. I'm not saying they are outright lying but ... they might be.

[billethkid]

:blahblahblah::mornincoffee:
Nothing to see here. What else is new? Just more attempt to cause hysteria and take more control. Even Fauci said the new version seems to be milder than the old and less dangerous. If anything, this is too little and too late. :popcorn:

Is it a coincidence that Omicron is announced right after the biggest travel time of the year since before the pandemic, reinstated sports venues, back to normal dining, thousands of cruise passengers weekly, etc......without a major break out of any kind what so ever!

The agenda? My guess....keep the majority scared, dependent and constrained as possible.

[ThirdOfFive]

Seems a bit Draconian, so it makes me wonder what "they" know that hasn't been made public
In my opinion this proposed action is a trial balloon aimed at states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, etc. It means little or nothing in states where COVID (in whatever variant) is in wholesale retreat.

[ThirdOfFive]

So once again, who should we believe?
Search the internet and you'll find some citation that supports your individual beliefs, no matter how bizarre they might be.
Meanwhile, I like the opinion of the taxi driver with an IQ of 70 that the TV news interviewed. He was of the opinion that by the time they identified a new variant and put travel restrictions in place, the genie was already out of the bottle. How right he is!!!!!
Who should we believe?

Saw the Doc yesterday as a follow-up to my physical exam three weeks ago. He verified that I had antibodies from both my bout with COVID as well as from the vaccinations I had this past June. He said that the antibodies I had from the actual bout with COVID were by far the more powerful, and that "you could go to Africa now and let people breathe on you and be perfectly safe".

[golfing eagles]

Who should we believe?

Saw the Doc yesterday as a follow-up to my physical exam three weeks ago. He verified that I had antibodies from both my bout with COVID as well as from the vaccinations I had this past June. He said that the antibodies I had from the actual bout with COVID were by far the more powerful, and that "you could go to Africa now and let people breathe on you and be perfectly safe".

Whoa there Hoss, I wouldn't be booking that safari just yet:

1) Unless there is a new, commercially available antibody test that was released in the last 3 weeks, the "antibody test" only measures antibody to the original spike protein, but there may be as many as a dozen or more antibodies involved in conferring immunity.

2) And that does not take the new omicron variant into account, of which little is known (yet)

3) So far, the vaccines have been pretty good at preventing spread (although that fades as the people who got the vaccine first are losing immunity due to the time span, at least until more people get boosters), and pretty good at preventing serious illness or death, each new variant is an unknown vis a vis the vaccines are concerned.

4) Without being overly critical(:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), as a retired professor of Internal Medicine at a major NY university and Chief of Staff at a 400 bed hospital, IMHO(:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), the statement about Africa by your physician seems a bit reckless (put politely)

[ThirdOfFive]

Whoa there Hoss, I wouldn't be booking that safari just yet:

1) Unless there is a new, commercially available antibody test that was released in the last 3 weeks, the "antibody test" only measures antibody to the original spike protein, but there may be as many as a dozen or more antibodies involved in conferring immunity.

2) And that does not take the new omicron variant into account, of which little is known (yet)

3) So far, the vaccines have been pretty good at preventing spread (although that fades as the people who got the vaccine first are losing immunity due to the time span, at least until more people get boosters), and pretty good at preventing serious illness or death, each new variant is an unknown vis a vis the vaccines are concerned.

4) Without being overly critical(:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), as a retired professor of Internal Medicine at a major NY university and Chief of Staff at a 400 bed hospital, IMHO(:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), the statement about Africa by your physician seems a bit reckless (put politely)
My thought is that the info. from Doc is a bit more reliable. With all due respect, he's not retired. His information may be a bit more current.

[golfing eagles]

My thought is that the info. from Doc is a bit more reliable. With all due respect, he's not retired. His information may be a bit more current.

I stated I was retired, not dead or stupid. I simply question the wisdom of telling a patient that he is so well protected that he can go to an area that has a newly discovered variant and have people breathe on him (Not to mention there are about a million other diseases you can get in Africa in that fashion).

PS. I believe my information is "current" as well, and it is possible through my academic colleagues that I have better sources than someone in a local practice.

[Bogie Shooter]

I’ll go with golfing eagles………

[PugMom]

Who should we believe?

Saw the Doc yesterday as a follow-up to my physical exam three weeks ago. He verified that I had antibodies from both my bout with COVID as well as from the vaccinations I had this past June. He said that the antibodies I had from the actual bout with COVID were by far the more powerful, and that "you could go to Africa now and let people breathe on you and be perfectly safe".

but now, that doesn't fit the narrative, does it? much better to leave msm on 24/7 ad nauseum to promote fear & control, as so stated. 1 of our doc's says: best way to fight the narrative" is to turn off the tv

[ThirdOfFive]

but now, that doesn't fit the narrative, does it? much better to leave msm on 24/7 ad nauseum to promote fear & control, as so stated. 1 of our doc's says: best way to fight the narrative" is to turn off the tv
Agreed. Fear can cause people to do irrational things, and media in America are masters at fostering it.

Interesting too, how the medical community itself is split on this COVID thing. My daughter is a nurse back in Minnesota, and the Minnesota Nurses' Association, of which she is a member, voted this past September to adopt a NEUTRAL stance on COVID vaccines. In other words, take 'em or leave 'em. Anyone knowing Minnesota or having lived there at any time in the past 20-odd years would know that such a stance by such a large and influential group is akin to sacrilege but according to my daughter the consensus was pretty definite.

Kudos to them for not succumbing to the "narrative" pressure.

[JMintzer]

I’ll go with golfing eagles………

Where? To Africa? :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[golfing eagles]

Where? To Africa? :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Actually, we're sending you ahead as a scout/ survival course participant. And since it's pass/fail, it easier!:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[dewilson58]

"you could go to Africa now and let people breathe on you and be perfectly safe".

Just don't back into a door knob, you can catch many things.

[JMintzer]

Actually, we're sending you ahead as a scout/ survival course participant. And since it's pass/fail, it easier!:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I have my guidebook ready!

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cm8AAOSwnhJbs8EN/s-l400.jpg

[fishon]

The Xi variant of the Chinese flu was named Omricon because Moronic was too easy.

[jswirs]

It ALWAYS starts with one case (patient zero), even the black death. The difference is that we have a proven way to mitigate the spread of this virus, yet 100 million adult Americans refuse to get vaccinated.
Correct. That, along with hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are not required to get tested or vaccinated, who are seeded throughout our country.

[Petersweeney]

This is so simple …. If I’m in the tire business I’m going to say you need tires even if you don’t …. Nothing personal…..get it?

[Susan1717]

I regularly check my antibodies through a blood test at Quest and know my number/level. It’s still high after 9 months later from having Covid.
If Biden is putting such intense travel rules on us, would it be easier to just go to Mexico and cross over with zero tests or mandates? Have there been any more secret late night flights into Jacksonville bringing immigrants to Florida? Just joking….. but not really.

[Captainpd]

You need to find a more creditable source than that pink rag Washington Compost

[Bethwill]

Jumbling the words to avoid TOTV jail.

[golfing eagles]

]I regularly check my antibodies through a blood test at Quest and know my number/level.[/B] It’s still high after 9 months later from having Covid.
If Biden is putting such intense travel rules on us, would it be easier to just go to Mexico and cross over with zero tests or mandates? Have there been any more secret late night flights into Jacksonville bringing immigrants to Florida? Just joking….. but not really.

Please see point one on post #16

I have no idea why anyone would regularly check their antibody level, in fact, I'm having trouble understanding why any physician would order multiple antibody tests on an asymptomatic patient, but beware putting all one's faith in the only commercially available antibody test out there. In other words, a positive antibody test does not necessarily = immunity.

[Karen Cruiser]

That only applies to people flying in ——— NOT people charging in without papers through our southern border!

[Joe C.]

Ya know, ----- If you ignore it, it'll just go away.
Ain't it so?
:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Ecuadog]

I got this from CNBC.

"The Biden administration is tightening travel rules to and within the U.S., requiring all in-bound international passengers to test for Covid within 24 hours of departure ...

The tightened pre-departure testing protocols will apply to all in-bound international travelers regardless of vaccination status and will begin as early as next week ..."

(emphasis mine)

[Villages Kahuna]

political!!

[Villages Kahuna]

This is as political a post as I’ve seen here. It should be deleted.

[OhioBuckeye]

I got this from The Washington Post.

"The Biden administration is preparing stricter testing requirements for all travelers entering the United States, including returning Americans, to curb the spread of the potentially dangerous omicron variant, according to three federal health officials.

As part of an enhanced winter covid strategy Biden is expected to announce Thursday, U.S. officials would require everyone entering the country to be tested ​one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country of departure. Administration officials are also considering a requirement that all travelers get retested within three to five days of arrival.

In addition, they are debating a controversial proposal to require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for seven days, even if their test results are negative. Those who flout the requirements might be subject to fines and penalties, the first time such penalties would be linked to testing and quarantine measures for travelers in the United States.​"​

Just me but as unstable as the world is in, I’ll stay right here in the good ole U.S. People get into all kinds of issues from foreign govt. & then they expect the U.S. get them out of there. Oh I believe there’s safe places to go but anything could happen!

[Proveone]

I got this from The Washington Post.

"The Biden administration is preparing stricter testing requirements for all travelers entering the United States, including returning Americans, to curb the spread of the potentially dangerous omicron variant, according to three federal health officials.

As part of an enhanced winter covid strategy Biden is expected to announce Thursday, U.S. officials would require everyone entering the country to be tested ​one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country of departure. Administration officials are also considering a requirement that all travelers get retested within three to five days of arrival.

In addition, they are debating a controversial proposal to require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for seven days, even if their test results are negative. Those who flout the requirements might be subject to fines and penalties, the first time such penalties would be linked to testing and quarantine measures for travelers in the United States.​"​
Sounds reasonable to me. The Flu Pandemic of 1918 lasted for several years (I think at least three). Better to be safe than sorry!

[Byte1]

It ALWAYS starts with one case (patient zero), even the black death. The difference is that we have a proven way to mitigate the spread of this virus, yet 100 million adult Americans refuse to get vaccinated.

Have we EVER had a 100% acceptance of anything, especially vaccinations? Did anyone really expect different?

[JMintzer]

This is as political a post as I’ve seen here. It should be deleted.

Posting that opinion here is not how that will happen...

[PugMom]

so my daughter is going to ireland for sure to see future son-in-law over xmas. she's had all the shots, but will STILL need to quarantine upon return???? wait until her employer hears this: :faint:

[DeanFL]

this is as political a post as i’ve seen here. It should be deleted.

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Why???
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[La lamy]

The latest I heard is having to show a negative test from within 24 hours. That's EXTREME. So hard for labs to make that happen without it being very pricey. :ohdear:

[kenoc7]

Is it a coincidence that Omicron is announced right after the biggest travel time of the year since before the pandemic, reinstated sports venues, back to normal dining, thousands of cruise passengers weekly, etc......without a major break out of any kind what so ever!

The agenda? My guess....keep the majority scared, dependent and constrained as possible.
"keep the majority scared, dependent and constrained as possible." Rubbish, this is serious - just consider the death toll in the US and around the world.
__________________

[MandoMan]

This is why I’m going to travel the USA and see things I haven’t seen yet. Went to the Grand Canyon, will go to see Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc etc. There are plenty of things to see without leaving the US. I want to make sure I can get back home if I travel.

All I can think of right now is “what if I go overseas and I am stuck there?” I’ve gotten both Moderna vaccines plus the booster. Hard to make plans now, anyway.

It’s not just the national parks that are worth seeing (if you have a reservation and can get in). Last summer I drove from here to the Adirondacks near the Canadian border, west to Denver, then back to The Villages through southern Missouri and Tennessee. A few takeaways: I had never driven across Kansas in the summer, and I was surprised by how beautiful it is. I kept expecting to see buffalo or bands of Indians. I drove for a couple hundred miles on old U.S. highways away from the Interstate. Miles of farmland. Lots of small but thriving small towns I’d never heard of, generally neat and well kept up. Filled with real people, as contrasted with what the big city and coastal people think of them. I’d never driven in southern Missouri. Lots of forests and farms. (The view from the Interstate highways can be really beautiful, too, but it makes the country seem free of people and sort of meaningless. You will get a much different sense of the country if you avoid it and are willing to slow down and drive through a small town every fifteen minutes on some two lane highway.)

If you say you love your country, you owe it to yourself (and to your country) to actually see it, and not just the parks or some Broadway musical or Washington museum or Florida amusement park. If you say you served your country, go see what and who you served. Most of the problems our country faces are associated with big cities and the people who live there. The vast majority of America, though, is beautiful, hard-working, neat, clean, and safe. America the beautiful is still beautiful, and in those places, it’s friendly and not crowded. Consider skipping some of the great parks and great “destinations” and just open your eyes and see as you drive.

Back about forty years ago an English teacher named William Least Heat Moon (an American Indian) wrote a classic book called “Blue Line Highways” about a trip through part of America in an old Econoline van traveling only on the highways marked blue on his gas station maps—the lesser state highways. He ate in diners, stopped in tiny towns, noticed everything and tried to appreciate it. The book was an inspiration to me. You might enjoy it, too.

[Cliff Fr]

What we need is for everyone to finally, possibly, maybe take this seriously. At the beginning it started with ONE case identified in Seattle 2020, 22 months later we’re still in this predicament.

Why is the vaccine still the solution when many people who have the new variant have been fully vaccinated. The doctor in Africa who identified the first cases also said that the unvaccinated who caught it show no symptoms whereas the vaccinated ones who caught it do show symptoms.

[JMintzer]

Probably never, nor should they. 100 million adult Americans are refusing to be vaccinated. That is simply a fact, nothing more, nothing less. Nothing political, nothing insulting, and therefore no reason to take the posts down.

How many of them have caught and recovered from Covid?

Problem is, no one knows, because they won't test for that...

[WesMan]

I got this from The Washington Post.

"The Biden administration is preparing stricter testing requirements for all travelers entering the United States, including returning Americans, to curb the spread of the potentially dangerous omicron variant, according to three federal health officials.

As part of an enhanced winter covid strategy Biden is expected to announce Thursday, U.S. officials would require everyone entering the country to be tested ​one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country of departure. Administration officials are also considering a requirement that all travelers get retested within three to five days of arrival.

In addition, they are debating a controversial proposal to require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for seven days, even if their test results are negative. Those who flout the requirements might be subject to fines and penalties, the first time such penalties would be linked to testing and quarantine measures for travelers in the United States.​"​
Is this for all entries??????? South, north, east, and west?????????????????

[golfing eagles]

Why is the vaccine still the solution when many people who have the new variant have been fully vaccinated. The doctor in Africa who identified the first cases also said that the unvaccinated who caught it show no symptoms whereas the vaccinated ones who caught it do show symptoms.

He can't be serious. No one should believe that garbage. Is it that doctor's contention that when encountering a serious, possibly deadly contagious disease, that you are better off if you were not vaccinated???? That doctor is either an idiot, has some twisted agenda, or graduated 146th in a class of 129 at the East Las Vegas school of medicine and bartending.

Please, NO ONE take that seriously, and btw posting it was NOT a community service.

[DeanFL]

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BTW - FLORIDA has been rated as the LOWEST Covid-infected state in the ENTIRE country. Based on infection rates per 100K population. Oh - remember the "DEATHSANTIS" rants by many in the country? now...crickets. We are SO happy to be in Florida - for many reasons.

CORONAVIRUS
Florida continues to see the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country, CDC data shows

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida currently has the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country.

CDC: Florida has the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country | wtsp.com (https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/florida-rate-of-covid-cases-cdc-data/67-89182a7f-b7d7-40e2-820a-7b7742148688).
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[Bonnevie]

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BTW - FLORIDA has been rated as the LOWEST Covid-infected state in the ENTIRE country. Based on infection rates per 100K population. Oh - remember the "DEATHSANTIS" rants by many in the country? now...crickets. We are SO happy to be in Florida - for many reasons.

CORONAVIRUS
Florida continues to see the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country, CDC data shows

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida currently has the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country.

CDC: Florida has the lowest rate of COVID cases in the country | wtsp.com (https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/florida-rate-of-covid-cases-cdc-data/67-89182a7f-b7d7-40e2-820a-7b7742148688).
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talk about selective reading. if you read the whole article it says that between surges Florida does ok, like now, but with the influx of international travelers we get, there's a high chance of it becoming worse.

[billethkid]

Omicron = convenient front and center distraction.

[DeanFL]

talk about selective reading. if you read the whole article it says that between surges Florida does ok, like now, but with the influx of international travelers we get, there's a high chance of it becoming worse.

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'the sky is falling!' Can't give credit where it's due? C'mon, really?

Selective reading? How about Selective Bias?
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[ex34449]

Wait a week, it'll change to suit someone's agenda somewhere.

[Bonnevie]

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'the sky is falling!' Can't give credit where it's due? C'mon, really?

Selective reading? How about Selective Bias?
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sorry if I actually decided to read the citation you posted and discovered there's more to it than the headline.

is it selective bias to point out Florida is 10th out of 50 in deaths?

• U.S. COVID-19 death rate by state | Statista (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109011/coronavirus-covid19-death-rates-us-by-state/)

[Bonnevie]

My thought is that the info. from Doc is a bit more reliable. With all due respect, he's not retired. His information may be a bit more current.

I would argue that golfing eagle is probably more current on information due to the fact he has more time to keep up with it. primary care docs are swamped seeing more and more patients to make up for medicare cut backs to reimbursement, insurance problems, following up on labs, etc. not a lot of time to read all the journals they get.

[golfing eagles]

I would argue that golfing eagle is probably more current on information due to the fact he has more time to keep up with it. primary care docs are swamped seeing more and more patients to make up for medicare cut backs to reimbursement, insurance problems, following up on labs, etc. not a lot of time to read all the journals they get.

Actually, read much more and kept up much more when I was working. There is a CME(Continuing Medical Education) requirement in NY as well as from the ABIM(American Board of Internal Medicine). However, I had to keep up with a large number of subjects, now, only a few. And I talk with my friend who is an infectious disease specialist frequently.

[Two Bills]

This is the latest update regarding the Omicron variant on BBC news in UK.
Seems to suggest that people with natural immunity from previous infection, and those vaccinated are all just as vulnerable to latest variant.

First data points to Omicron re-infection risk
James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

The first real world data showing the coronavirus variant Omicron may evade some of our immunity has been reported by scientists in South Africa.

Scientists have detected a surge in the number of people catching Covid multiple times.

It is a rapid analysis and not definitive, but fits with concern about the mutations the variant possesses.

It is also not clear what this means for the protection given by vaccines.

Scientists have analysed nearly 36,000 suspected re-infections in South Africa to look for any changes to re-infection rates (catching it twice or more) throughout the pandemic.

They showed there was no surge in the risk of re-infection during either the Beta or Delta waves. This is despite laboratory studies suggesting those variants had the potential to evade some immunity.

However, they are now detecting a spike in re-infections. They have not tested each patient to prove it is Omicron, but they say the timing suggests the variant is the driving force.

[golfing eagles]

This is the latest update regarding the Omicron variant on BBC news in UK.
Seems to suggest that people with natural immunity from previous infection, and those vaccinated are all just as vulnerable to latest variant.

First data points to Omicron re-infection risk
James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

The first real world data showing the coronavirus variant Omicron may evade some of our immunity has been reported by scientists in South Africa.

Scientists have detected a surge in the number of people catching Covid multiple times.

It is a rapid analysis and not definitive, but fits with concern about the mutations the variant possesses.

It is also not clear what this means for the protection given by vaccines.

Scientists have analysed nearly 36,000 suspected re-infections in South Africa to look for any changes to re-infection rates (catching it twice or more) throughout the pandemic.

They showed there was no surge in the risk of re-infection during either the Beta or Delta waves. This is despite laboratory studies suggesting those variants had the potential to evade some immunity.

However, they are now detecting a spike in re-infections. They have not tested each patient to prove it is Omicron, but they say the timing suggests the variant is the driving force.

And I have highlighted the relevant flaws in that press release.

[Two Bills]

They have not tested each patient to prove it is Omicron.

It is a rapid analysis and not definitive.


I suppose that is why they pointed that out in the press release, rather than not?

[MDLNB]

Is it true that the few infected with the omicron version in the U.S. were all vaccinated? Since it was a very few so far, I guess it is just a coincidence.
Someone suggested that the reason Covid infections have been so low in Africa is that they are consistently on malaria medicine.
Since information about Covid is rationed out to us, I guess wild speculation is going to be the norm and we will have to draw our own conclusions. No one will ever be 100% right.
Get vaccinated and you cannot pass the virus on to others. Uhhh, that changed.
Get vaccinated and you will not be hospitalized. Uhh, that changed too.
Get vaccinated and you will not need to wear a mask. Wrong, more change.
Get vaccinated and you will be protected from Delta. Maybe.
You are not "patriotic" if you don't get vaccinated.
You are a danger to others if you don't wear a mask.
Everyone not wearing a mask is infected with a deadly disease.
Masks will protect you from the deadly virus.

Oh well..............:rant-rave:..:shrug:..:shrug:

[Pixelpups]

Seems a bit Draconian, so it makes me wonder what "they" know that hasn't been made public

It’s too soon to know much, except people don’t seem to be dying from it in South Africa. I think a nasal vaccine might encourage those who fear needles to get vaccinated.

[Altavia]

@MLMB

No medical treatment is perfect. Vaccines do not prevent disease - they REDUCE THE RISK of infection, hospitalization, death and transmission of the disease.

Also as the virus evolves, things change. It's hard to predict mother nature. From an infection perspective, Delta was more like a different virus.

These points could have been communicated/comprehended better by the medical and scientific community throughout the disease.

Nobody knows about Omicron. Perhaps it will be a more infectious disease with mild severity similar to a cold that will out compete more severe virus like Delta. We can only hope.

[Ecuadog]

Sheesh…

All I wanted to do was warn travelers about the U.S. going to require all in-bound, international passengers to test for Covid within 24 hours of flight departure, regardless of vaccination status and nationality. It could very well make your plans more difficult.

[billethkid]

No, the real problem is the untested, unvaxed migrants coming into FL by bus and plane loads.


Omicron appears and the invasion of illegals has disappeared!!

[Moderator]

thread closed