WaPo:
More cases of omicron variant detected across five states
Nearly a dozen cases of the omicron coronavirus variant have now been detected around the United States, with many of them confirmed in New York on Thursday.
New York and Hawaii are the latest to announce infections, and officials in both states said there is evidence of “community spread.” Cases have also been detected in California, Minnesota and Colorado. The Minnesota patient recently attended a New York City convention that drew thousands of people.
Health officials have been bracing to discover more infections since the first reported U.S. case was announced Wednesday.
“This is not a cause for major alarm,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said at a news conference, urging people to wear masks, get vaccinated and get booster shots.
Researchers worry that omicron could prove more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines — but scientists are still trying to answer those questions.
Here’s what to know
NEW YORK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.
This genetic sequence does not appear in any earlier versions of the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, but is ubiquitous in many other viruses including those that cause the common cold, and also in the human genome, researchers said.
Health officials have been bracing to discover more infections since the first reported U.S. case was announced Wednesday.
“This is not a cause for major alarm,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said at a news conference, urging people to wear masks, get vaccinated and get booster shots.
Researchers worry that omicron could prove more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines — but scientists are still trying to answer those questions.
Here’s what to know
- White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to controlling the virus’s spread.
- Many vaccination and booster shot combinations appear likely to protect against covid-19, but Pfizer’s and Moderna’s shots may work best, according to a new study.
- People will be required to wear masks on airplanes, trains, buses and other transportation through March 18, according to senior Biden administration officials.
- All international travelers must take a coronavirus test one day before their flight to the United States, starting Dec. 6.
- Anthony S. Fauci, the United States’ top infectious-disease expert, said the Biden administration is preparing for a possible “variant-specific boost” of vaccinations.
And now, let's consider some of the weird Sci-Fi shit that biology can pull on us when we're not looking.
"Not looking": as in being so fucking stoopid you don't know that a virus needs room to operate, and it does that best in a host population that has no immunity - like a bunch a fuckin' idiots who think resisting vaccination is how you prove you're smart.
NEW YORK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.
This genetic sequence does not appear in any earlier versions of the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, but is ubiquitous in many other viruses including those that cause the common cold, and also in the human genome, researchers said.
By inserting this particular snippet into itself, Omicron might be making itself look "more human," which would help it evade attack by the human immune system, said Venky Soundararajan of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based data analytics firm nference, who led the study posted on Thursday on the website OSF Preprints.
This could mean the virus transmits more easily, while only causing mild or asymptomatic disease. Scientists do not yet know whether Omicron is more infectious than other variants, whether it causes more severe disease or whether it will overtake Delta as the most prevalent variant. It may take several weeks to get answers to these questions.
- more -
Breaking: Omicron has been detected in almost ⅓ of the states.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin
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