A new variant of Covid 19 has been discovered, and given the ominous name of Omicron. According to the New York Post, “(s)cientists looked at virus samples and discovered the new variant after South African cases began to explode (at the end of November) after holding at about 200 a day. Cases neared 2,500 (by November 27)… (t)he seemingly high number of mutations — about 30 — in the coronavirus’ spike protein could mean it spreads easily. That is about double the number of mutations of the Delta variant, and could mean increased transmissibility.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) wasted no time in labeling the new variant a “concern,” stating that “(t)he overall global risk related to the new variant … is assessed as very high”…adding that Omicron “has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic.” As if that didn’t sound serious enough, the WHO added that “(t)he presence of multiple mutations of the spike protein in the receptor-binding domain suggests that Omicron may have a high likelihood of immune escape from antibody-mediated protection” which means the strain has the potential “to escape protection offered by vaccines and previous infections.”
Nonetheless, “despite this troubling assessment, the agency cautioned against imposing travel bans, amid worries that banning travel from countries where new variants are first detected could be unfair and dissuade surveillance. ‘With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity,’ WHO regional director Matshidiso Moeti said…”
In light of this recommendation from the scientists at WHO, what is the first thing President Joe “I follow the science” Biden does?
“The Biden administration announced plans…to ban travel to the United States from South Africa and seven other countries, just hours after a new coronavirus variant was deemed a highly transmissible virus of concern… Biden…urged fully vaccinated Americans to get booster shots and the unvaccinated to get the ‘life-saving protection.’ Biden also addressed the global community in his statement, saying the new variant shows the pandemic won’t end until vaccines are readily available around the world.”
Predictably, the ban on travel from South Africa, and several other African nations, has not been well received. As noted by the Washington Examiner, “Biden’s decision to close the U.S. border to southern African visitors has been blasted by travel lobby groups and attracted hypocrisy complaints after he seemed to suggest former President Donald Trump’s travel bans were ‘xenophobic.'”
“White House press secretary Jen Psaki distanced Biden from his past comments…adamant the president ‘has not been critical’ of travel bans. But her remarks contrast with Biden’s previous statements and tweets. Shortly after Trump announced his China travel ban in January 2020, Biden told voters in Iowa his opponent’s ‘record of hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering’ disqualified him to ‘lead our country through a global health emergency.’ Biden and his staffers then spent the next two months insisting that the then-candidate was referring to Trump’s history of alleged xenophobic conduct, including his Muslim travel ban, not the movement restrictions. ‘A wall will not stop the coronavirus,’ Biden tweeted that March. ‘Banning all travel from Europe — or any other part of the world — will not stop it.'”
Not to be out done in rushing forward with a panicked response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (the latest “accidental governor” of that state, after Andrew Cuomo’s epic fall from grace) “signed an executive order…to postpone elective hospital surgeries — something that hasn’t been done since the worst of the initial coronavirus outbreak last year. Hochul said she made the move to deal with staffing shortages and boost bed capacity amid an anticipated ‘spike’ in new cases and the emergence of the new Omicron variant in South Africa… ‘while the new Omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it’s coming,’ Hochul said.”
Was all of this panic good for the stock market? According to Barrons, “Stock markets and oil prices plunged…over fears of a new coronavirus variant that scientists warn could be more infectious than the Delta strain and more resistant to vaccines, potentially dealing a heavy blow to the global economic recovery. The Dow saw its worst drop of the year as Wall Street indices plunged and the dollar floundered… US crude oil prices tumbled more than 13 percent and the main international contract lost nearly 12 percent, which CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson attributed to ‘concerns that this new mutation could add to the pressure on demand’…Share prices of airlines and tourism groups dived, while there were big losses also for energy groups.”
Trying to stem the rising tide of alarm his travel ban sparked, Biden addressed the nation, stating that the new variant was “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” and that “lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus were off the table ‘for now.'” That “for now” reassured absolutely no one.
But what of this new variant with a name like a villain out of Dr Who? Is it more deadly than the original Covid-19 virus? More dangerous than the Delta variant?
The pump can cheap generic levitra either be hand operated or electric, but in both ways performs the same function. Kamagra Polo – An enchantment solution for sexual weakness.Is it true that you are the person who does not want to have distances with the partner, you cannot have the real taste of happy relationship. cialis canada online This medicine levitra sildenafil greyandgrey.com helps in curing male impotence after managing internal erection functions. Every dosage requires 60 cialis online minutes to show it off to.Apparently not. According to “Dr. Angelique Coetzee, a practicing doctor for 30 years who chairs the South African Medical Association (SAMA)… ‘(Omicron) presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well…So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home.”
Mild symptoms? Slight cough? Sore muscles, tiredness – for a day or two? No loss of taste or smell? No prominent symptoms?
Does this illness sound worthy of dread? Or is there another purpose in sounding the warning gong over this new variant?
According to Joel Mathis, writing for The Week, “Republican governors like Ron DeSantis in Florida and Greg Abbott in Texas have tried to block vaccine and mask mandates, while Fox News stars (and some Trumpist members of Congress) have spread conspiracy theories…. It has always been the case that unvaccinated people risk not only their own health but also the well-being of their neighbors — in part because they serve as potential breeding grounds for COVID variants. It’s probably not a coincidence that Omicron was first detected in South Africa, where barely more than a third of the population has received the jab. Every Tucker Carlson rant that encourages vaccine hesitancy makes the next deadly variant a bit more likely.”
In fact, while asking the public not to panic, “President Joe Biden…once again urg(ed) Americans to get vaccinated, obtain a booster shot and wear masks in public places…’In the event — hopefully unlikely — that updated vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to Omicron, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool,” Biden said.”
Further, “(c)iting the emergence of the omicron variant, the CDC (Center for Disease Control)…said ‘everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot” of the COVID vaccine if it has been at least six months since they completed the regimen of Pfizer or Moderna shots or two months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
No lockdowns – for now. But get your vaccine, or your booster. Wear your mask. All to protect yourself from an illness that causes “mild symptoms” “for a day or two.”
Former Clinton Chief of Staff and former Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel once famously said, “you never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” Seems you no longer need to wait for a genuine crisis. For those who insist you continue wearing masks and get a booster shot every two months, crying wolf is opportunity enough.
Judge John Wilson (ret.) served on the bench on New York City.
Illustration: Pixabay