The uncertainty around #omicron is stressful and uncomfortable.
But one reason we have so little to go on, is that this variant was identified very early. The earlier we find new variants, the less time they have had to show us what they do in the real world - and that’s good.
But one reason we have so little to go on, is that this variant was identified very early. The earlier we find new variants, the less time they have had to show us what they do in the real world - and that’s good.
This is why we need to make sure that the tools for early detection and sequencing of variants are available everywhere around the globe.
And it is why we should be thankful for the stellar work scientists in South Africa have done in the last days, weeks and months.
And it is why we should be thankful for the stellar work scientists in South Africa have done in the last days, weeks and months.
Announcing something like this very early also carries a risk and scientists have to be willing to take that risk. I chatted with @Tuliodna last night and he said: "One thing that this pandemic taught us is that acting fast is key."
@Tuliodna “We do risk a massive backlash in case the Omicron VOC does not cause a massive wave of infection and can be controled. But this is a risk that I am comfortable to live with as the pandemic has caused so many deaths and suffering”, @Tuliodna told me.
@Tuliodna You can argue a lot about whether travel restrictions are the right way to respond to all this. They clearly have many negative impacts and a big one is that they make it less likely that other countries will go out on a limb this early to announce a variant that *may* be bad.
@Tuliodna As Kristian Andersen told me, countries could increase screening or put quarantine protocols in place.
“But instead of closing down airspace, you send additional planes there with the vaccines and get as many people vaccinated as fast as possible."
“But instead of closing down airspace, you send additional planes there with the vaccines and get as many people vaccinated as fast as possible."
@Tuliodna And @JeremyFarrar pointed out that these travel restrictions are only likely to slow down the spread of a new variant not stop it. “It buys you time. The question is what you then do with that time, and you know, we don't have that many options."
@Tuliodna @JeremyFarrar In the end, Omicron is only a reminder to do what we should be doing anyway:
Vaccinating everyone and
using other public health measures to drive down transmission of this virus.
Vaccinating everyone and
using other public health measures to drive down transmission of this virus.
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