NEW—“Omicron is producing hospitalizations & sadly at least 1 patient has now died with #Omicron. The idea that this is somehow a milder version of virus—we need to set [aside] & recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates.” @BorisJohnson #COVID19
3) U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the number of Omicron infections “is doubling every two to three days,” and warned, “we’re in a new race, whether we like it or not, between the virus and the vaccine.” 
4) If you’ve been infected before or gotten 2 shots—you need a booster. 2 shots or a past infection is not enough to protect you. #GetBoosted
https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1470189259864870920
5) Especially with 2 shots of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines — it’s not enough against #Omicron. It’s too different from the original Wuhan spike protein that our 1.0
version vaccines upon which they currently are designed against. See thread 🧵
version vaccines upon which they currently are designed against. See thread 🧵
https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1469602649465139207
6) Hospitalizations in London are up ⬆️ 30% in one week. In England as a whole, it’s up 12%.
https://twitter.com/COVID19actuary/status/1470439096124325892
7) As hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections by about two weeks, Mr Javid said we could "expect those numbers to dramatically increase in the days and weeks that lie ahead". bbc.com/news/uk-596390…
8) As well as the expansion of boosters, new Plan B measures have been introduced in England to slow the spread of Omicron:
•People are being advised to work from home if they can, bringing England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
•People are being advised to work from home if they can, bringing England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
9) •Rules on face masks have already been tightened and they are now mandatory in most indoor public places, including theatres and cinemas
•From Wednesday, subject to parliamentary approval, Covid passes will be required to get into nightclubs and other large venues
•From Wednesday, subject to parliamentary approval, Covid passes will be required to get into nightclubs and other large venues
10) Good news is a 3rd shot (Pfizer booster) after 2 shots of AZ puts one back up to 71.4% VE against symptomatic #Omicron disease after 2 weeks after 3rd shot, or 75.5% with 3x Pfizer shots. This is good news at least. Still waiting for hospitalization VE - coming soon.
11) Omicron is doubling every 1.6 days in UK 🇬🇧 according to @DrWilliamKu’s figure. That’s way faster growth than in South Africa. I think it’s maybe due to 2x doses of AstraZeneca being the main vaccine in the UK while SA haven’t used any AZ for a long time. Boosters now!
12) KEEP IN MIND— a lower severity won’t prevent mass hospitalization deaths if the virus is more contagious / evasive against past immunity. Exponential math will catch up ultimately much faster in the end. See 🧵 below 👇
https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1469723185084084225
13) If some of you want to dismiss #Omicron or #COVID19 as no biggie— then will you complain when the hospital is full later when you or your family actually need medical care? This man’s wife has breast cancer. Let this man’s message sink in 👇
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1425649918102974467
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