New variant has emerged in Africa, should we be worried?

Really hope you are right though

The Western travel ban has provoked anger among South Africans, with many claiming that they are being punished for having outstanding research institutions and being transparent about their findings.

Me too Lucca ?

No one is punishing anybody, but as we know from the start of the pandemic, new diseases, new variants need to be contained as soon as they are found to try to linit or slow down their transmission.

Many countries have the same quality of research centres as South Africa, admittedly not many in Africa. Their would have been the same reaction if a potentially dangerous new variant was found in the UK.

Urmstongran

I feel for the retailers especially independents just before Christmas as this will push on line shopping again.

Maybe I've missed something, but retailers aren't being told to shut. People are being told to wear masks in shops, which isn't a big deal for the vast majority of people.

M0nica

No one is punishing anybody, but as we know from the start of the pandemic, new diseases, new variants need to be contained as soon as they are found to try to linit or slow down their transmission.

Many countries have the same quality of research centres as South Africa, admittedly not many in Africa. Their would have been the same reaction if a potentially dangerous new variant was found in the UK.

If my memory serves me correctly, there was a similar reaction when a new variant was first identified in Kent.

I think that happened here too when the so called Kent variant was first identified in this country. It’s just what happens, nothing to get too excited about.

Urmstongran
I feel for the retailers especially independents just before Christmas as this will push on line shopping again.
Maybe I've missed something, but retailers aren't being told to shut. People are being told to wear masks in shops, which isn't a big deal for the vast majority of people.

On the contrary, I for one will be more inclined to go shopping if people start wearing masks again.

Urmstongran

Guardedly good news. The South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’
(Dr Angelique Coetze)

All credit to her for alerting the world immediately to this new variant. I wonder where we would all be now if China had been so vigilant back in 2019?

Interesting. Over the last couple of weeks I've been aware of a 'nasty flu virus' doing the rounds here, a few friends have had it, and last week so did I. Symptoms - excessively tired, sore throat, constant headache. no temperature, no cough and no loss of taste/smell. Lasted around 4 days. I've had my flu jab, and did a covid test and was clear, so stayed in bed for a couple of days (I was too tired to move anyway). I wear a mask when out and avoid contact with anyone I don't know.

The symptoms myself and others have had are the same as given by Dr Coetze. Anyone else had a similar 'flu virus' over the last couple of weeks?

Why hasn't this thread moved up in active messages? Good job I don't buy into conspiracy theories - I'd be getting rather paranoid

If your Covid test was negative* Boheminan* then it was presumably a bad cold. Not dismissing your symptoms, but the existence of Covid has perhaps led us to forget how awful a truly heavy cold and even more so, flu, can be.

There have been a lot of really nasty, long-lasting colds about which tests have proved not to be covid.

That's happened with a number of threads. I think it's just a software glitch.

I don't see what there is to be paranoid about.

Scientists are perfectly capable of distinguishing between a mutation of Covid and flu.

The fact is that Omicron is a new variant and little is known about it to date. It seems to have developed mutations which make it more transmissible, which give it an evolutionary advantage. We should all know more in a couple of weeks, but need to act now.

It's a wake-up call to complacency, although I'm sure deniers will carry on as before.

Quite a few people in my workplace have had a horrible flu bug and have been left nursing chest infections (not covid)

Been to my local Sainsburys this morning and no one wearing masks. I thought they were now mandatory in shops. I know--I really should have said something to the assistants.

mandatory from Tuesday apparently

And not a moment too soon.

It will be interesting to see who obeys this …..I have some doubts,

Oh, thanks JaneJudge I expect the virus must have weekends off!

Listened to Andrew Marr this morning. The doctor who first suspected a new variant said it caused fewer symptoms and the evidence suggests it’s more transmissible. I refuse to get in a panic about it. Surely the most important thing is how fatal it is not its transmissibility.

I don’t want to see older people and others in care locked down again. It’s cruel and takes away precious family contact.

What I fail to understand is that whilst masks will be mandatory on public transport and shopping, it won’t be in bars and restaurants.

I will continue to wear a mask on public transport and shopping and hope others will cooperate. It seems to me more government nonsense! DH suggested that the government does not want riots on the streets as has happened in Europe.

I hope it’s just a storm in a teacup but only time will tell.

I find it ridiculous that it's Tuesday too! I wish they'd make it mandatory in all workplaces to be honest.

ayse, my daughter has a learning disability and is 'in care' and it is becoming quite apparent that her and her housemate are only really processing now what has happened over the last 18 months or so. It has been very upsetting and unsettling for all concerned, let alone those that have lost someone.

I'm absolutely with you*ayse*.Masks should be mandatory in bars and restaurants too. Not only for the sake of other customers but also the staff having to work there.

Interesting fact is that Scottish cases do not vary much from the English ones though we have been wearing masks in shops restaurants etc. all the time . I have done one bus journey where most people ignored the rule .