New variant contagious

[abbby]

This new variant seems to be very contagious? There seems to be a lot of larger clusters going around.

[Max Headroom]

Pre-alpha, beta, gamma, etc, we were used to seeing extremely low new case numbers here. Evidently, back then, our basic "new normal" line of defense was pretty effective against the original Covid-19 virus spreading.

However, since these mutants appeared on the scene, it looks like basic is no longer cutting it.

In effect, we either 1) constantly tighten up further in this arms race with the ever-mutating virus, or 2) come to terms to living our lives knowing that there will always be x-number of people out there infected with Covid.

Given that it's unlikely we'll ever reach 100% vaccination/immunity, it looks to me that it's pretty pointless gunning for zero cases.

IOW, unless we come up with some sort of super-vaccine, I reckon scenario 2 is the the most probable one. This is likely the real new normal.






Edit: edit.

[abbby]

Precisely, because from what I understand from doctors, once a flu strain gets mutated, the vaccination will not be effective because it's a different strain.

[Jgrif96229]

Not good when a driver taking people to quarantine facility also becomes infected.

[Max Headroom]

Indeed.

I'm finding it very, very difficult imagining this driver not wearing his/her mask, given the status of these particular pax.

Of course, he/she may have inadvertently been wearing the mask incorrectly. But even then, for the virus to instantly be able to exploit this, to require just a little leeway to infect a new host, well, it looks like this particular variant's infectiousness could really be next-level.

Even if we assume the driver got infected by transmission through physical contact rather than by aerial particles, it still implies that this specific strain is really good at entering new hosts, given that it's scoring a 50% success rate, possibly even 100%.

All that being said, I recall that proportionately quite a few cab drivers kena SARS back when it was going around. So perhaps it's just this particular set of circumstances that these critters are able to leverage so well, i.e. a tiny closed off confined space with someone infected mere inches away from you.

Perhaps opening cab windows, and leaving them open, should be a keeper. For now at least.

Lastly, I guess we can't really discount the possibility that the driver got infected elsewhere altogether, although this surely has to be a longshot.

Either way, this bugger has "endemic" written all over it.






Edit: edit.

[Lisafuller]

Indeed.

I'm finding it very, very difficult imagining this driver not wearing his/her mask, given the status of these particular pax.

Of course, he/she may have inadvertently been wearing the mask incorrectly. But even then, for the virus to instantly be able to exploit this, to require just a little leeway to infect a new host, well, it looks like this particular variant's infectiousness could really be next-level.

Even if we assume the driver got infected by transmission through physical contact rather than by aerial particles, it still implies that this specific strain is really good at entering new hosts, given that it's scoring a 50% success rate, possibly even 100%.

All that being said, I recall that proportionately quite a few cab drivers kena SARS back when it was going around. So perhaps it's just this particular set of circumstances that these critters are able to leverage so well, i.e. a tiny closed off confined space with someone infected mere inches away from you.

Perhaps opening cab windows, and leaving them open, should be a keeper. For now at least.

Lastly, I guess we can't really discount the possibility that the driver got infected elsewhere altogether, although this surely has to be a longshot.

Either way, this bugger has "endemic" written all over it.






Edit: edit.

Exactly, the sooner Singapore starts treating the virus as endemic, the sooner we can have things return to “normal”.

[Lisafuller]

This new variant seems to be very contagious? There seems to be a lot of larger clusters going around.

Have all the new clusters been the result of the new variant?

[Lisafuller]

Precisely, because from what I understand from doctors, once a flu strain gets mutated, the vaccination will not be effective because it's a different strain.

Terrifying, hopefully we wont end up in an endless cycle of trying to catch up to the virus.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It will be just like the common flu. You buys your ticket (annual flu shot) or take your chances. The choice will ultimately be yours. And you will probably have to ultimately pay for those annual shots in the future as well, just like the rest of the world does.

[Lisafuller]

Honestly, if we think about it that way, it doesn’t seem all too bad.

[PNGMK]

Guangzhou / China is in a panic. Seems the Indian variant is causing real issues. Perhaps Sinovac doesn't work against it.

[Max Headroom]

You mean the Delta variant

If I recall, Sinovac only scored about 60% effectiveness. That was fine when you're base is 0, but it may come back and bite you in the arse down the road, when the virus "learns" by elimination how it can maximize its potential.

Hopefully, it's not as bad as it seems...




Edit: edit.

[PNGMK]

You mean the Delta variant

If I recall, Sinovac only scored about 60% effectiveness. That was fine when you're base is 0, but it may come back and bite you in the arse down the road, when the virus "learn" by elimination how it can maximize its potential.

Hopefully, it's not as bad as it seems...




Edit: edit.

Folks here are refusing to leave Singapore when their visa expires on the basis of what they know is going on back there....

[Lisafuller]

You mean the Delta variant

If I recall, Sinovac only scored about 60% effectiveness. That was fine when you're base is 0, but it may come back and bite you in the arse down the road, when the virus "learns" by elimination how it can maximize its potential.

Hopefully, it's not as bad as it seems...

Edit: edit.

60% is not enough for me to feel secure. In comparison to Pfizer’s 95%, Sinovac seems weak and ineffective.

[MOCHS]

It just means chances of getting COVID-19 is reduced by 60%. Still better than 0%. Having a vaccination is better than none. Some people can’t take mRNA vaccines for various reasons and presenting them with an alternative like Sinovac is still a good option.

This article explains the misconception about vaccine efficacy.