So studies show that Omicron appears to result in a 70% reduction in hospitalisations

It is Darwin's natural selection at an accelerated rate you simply do not see in any other organism, if indeed you can call a virus an organism, which it isn't.

There are trillions/quadrillions/quintillions of active viruses on this planet right now all replicating themselves at an astonishing rate. Unlike organisms (people/squirrels/daffodils/bacteria) viruses do not replicate by cell division, they infect the cell of an organism and utilise the biomechanics of the cell it has infected to synthesise the RNA and proteins required to replicate itself thousands and thousands of times.

RNA synthesis is not perfect, you get mutations. That double helix that you've heard about in DNA, one of the base pairs gets substituted for another and you've got a mutation. This changes the functionality of the gene/cell/virus. It doesn't happen very often but when you've got quadrillions of viruses replicating themselves thousands of times it results in a lot of mutations. Most go nowhere. They render the virus useless. A lesser version of the original and it can't compete. Occasionally, and when we're talking about such a rate of replication, occasionally is still quite often, it results in a virus that can out compete the original. Survival of the fittest.

How does a virus out-compete others? Firstly, transmissibility. If it can infect more organisms at a faster rate it will beat off competition. Secondly, not killing/incapacitating the host. If the host isn't wandering around helping to infect other organisms, if it's dead, or in bed and not meeting other organisms the virus won't be very successful. We won't get an Ebola pandemic in its current form, it's too virulent. It makes you too ill to spread it to others on a global scale.

All pandemics result in a more transmissible virus that is less virulent. The descendants of every viral pandemic there has ever been are still around and they give you a cold. And that's what will happen with this one.

Yours a conspiracy theorist.

 

My biggest question after all that is what made you choose a daffodil for part of your organism list?

 

I like daffodils and I wanted to highlight that organisms include animals, plants, bacteria - cellular beings. Variegated leaves, green with white bits in them like hostas for example, the white bits are often caused by a virus.

 

I cannot remember the last time I had an organism ! Its an age thing

 

There are levels of caution, and then there are levels of fear that are so severe (due to the way the media whip up hysteria and the way the government deal with their messaging and their handling of the situation at each turn) that this seriously impacts people's mental health and the way they behave towards others and the way they see themselves, particularly those who live alone and may experience increased fear and isolation as a result. I do believe a great deal of logic and people's ability to think for themselves (because the government and media are controlling this whole narrative) has been eroded.

 

My folks are in their mid-80s and had their booster three months ago. I've just heard it said on the news that the booster starts to wane at 10 weeks. That leaves them - and others of a similar age who had the booster in September - increasingly less protected from now on. We shouldn't be starting to do anything less until we know the effect of inter-generational mixing at Christmas.

 

This is a great example of how confusing everything is at the moment. The booster isn't supposed to wane in terms of prevemtion from serious illness after 10 weeks. But the protection from catching covid does wane from this point.

 

I've just been reading that this applies to Delta, but they aren't sure yet if it's the same with Omicron.

 

Even our government are finally it appears to be governing.

 

seriously DB do you just scan through all the rumours ‘till you find one5bat suits you because there are loads saying the opposite.

 

Only if it killed people straight away before becoming infectious. Covid has 4-5 days of symptomless transmission- where people are highly contagious before they get symptoms, so there’s no reason for covid not to then kill you.

 

A bit rich, that Loko!

 

If you’re dead it can’t use you again at a later date.
Re infection seems to be a big issue with this virus.

In fact purely anecdotal but I know loads of people (who’ve been very careful) who’ve not had covid and quite a few people who’ve had more than one dose of it (and they are either in high risk professions or have school age kids).

 

We will see but plenty of the main media outlets are now reporting the Telegraph exclusive. I think Boris can see no reason to put more restrictions on people when he's hated enough. Him (and Sunak) knows how important NYE is for hospitality. There is far too much negativity about Omicron when we are in a much better position than 12 months ago.

Boris has even given people a chance to have a cheaper Christmas by saying the best gift you can give loved ones this year is to take the vaccine. I can see it now kids waking up rushing to the tree to no presents. Asking their parents where their Christmas gifts are. Don't worry kids we've had the jab which is the best gift we could have possibly given you.

 

They also allow adverts for prescription drugs, which I've always found absolutely barmy.

 

Didn't Fauci advise everyone to "uninvite" the unvaccinated from Christmas?

 

I also heard that worrying stat on the radio today.
Well I’ll still be using my alcohol gel to sanitise my hands and for added protection I’ll fight it from the inside by loading myself with lager tomorrow night.
That should do it.