# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2021 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428 "2021-01-01T08:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 166
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3390 "2021-12-22T01:25:12Z")
The NHL is withdrawing from the Olympics: > **[AP sources: NHL to withdraw from Olympics after COVID surge](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-winter-olympics-nhl-sports-health-ef5be170d3310f4c7f923a53483ebd8a)** > > The NHL is not sending players to the Beijing Olympics over concerns that the pandemic will disrupt the league’s ability to complete a full season. Two people with direct knowledge of discussions told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the league... ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3391 "2021-12-22T01:46:25Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@mandala](#): > > > > How can that be? This article says that as on December 14, just 3% of all US cases was Omicron. > > The prior weekly estimate was revised up from 3% to 13%. > The weekly progression was **0.4% \> 13% \> 73%**. > It’s _much_ more infectious than the other strains. > > > On Monday, the CDC revised its estimate for omicron cases for the week that ended Dec. 11, after analyzing more samples. About 13% of the cases that week were from omicron, not the 3% previously reported. The week before, omicron accounted for just 0.4% of cases. Huh. I’d heard about that revision, but I thought it was just with NYC data, not over the whole country. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3392 "2021-12-22T02:26:14Z")
[Israel recommends a fourth dose](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3391) of the vaccine for people 60 and over. > More than three months on, Israeli health officials say the data is clear: Booster shots helped bring down the fourth wave of the virus that swept the country in August and September. > > However, three doses appear to not be enough, with Tuesday’s announcement marking the t\> hroes of a fifth wave. > > The total number of new Covid cases in Israel topped 1,300 on Monday, a figure not reached since the middle of October. > > Meanwhile, the country’s R coefficient – the number of people infected by each person with Covid-19 – jumped to 1.28, its highest level since early August, when Israel was in the height of the fourth wave. I’m confused. I thought the data showed that fully-vaxxed-including-booster was enough to prevent most serious cases of the Omicron variant. Does this mean the effectiveness of the booster wanes after several months? Does it mean we’re all going to need another booster soon? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3393 "2021-12-22T06:51:14Z")
British Columbia: > **[Live updates: British Columbia orders closures due to COVID](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-barcelona-spain-121fd89e11265cd45537eec86c96db00)** > > VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Canadian Pacific Coast province of British Columbia is closing bars, nightclubs and gyms because of the omicron coronavirus variant. Starting at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centers and... ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3394 "2021-12-22T08:17:17Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Does this mean the effectiveness of the booster wanes after several months? Does it mean we’re all going to need another booster soon? Perhaps they’ll have the omicron-specific vaccine available by then. In the meantime, that guy who got the dozen proxy shots in one day must be feeling very safe now. I wonder what his side-effects were like. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3395 "2021-12-22T10:25:07Z")
Israel is rolling out a fourth shot, so I expect we’ll follow suit before long. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3396 "2021-12-22T11:22:45Z")
Cross-posted from the Omicron thread - see [this post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/245). Early scientific research in both the UK and South Africa suggests that Omicron results in milder illness, and leads to far lower hospitalization rates. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3397 "2021-12-22T11:38:22Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Chicago will require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, effective Jan. 3. [Article.](https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lightfoot-mandate-covid-omicrom-20211221-4ycl26ykobeupcjslyiramth4u-story.html) [Another article.](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-to-require-vaccine-proof-for-indoor-spaces-like-restaurants-bars-gyms/2712739/) This astonishes me. Given the rate of spread of Omicron, that’s like… thinking about shutting the stable door as you watch the horse disappear into the distance. Add to that the fact that it’s a plan that comes into effect _after_ Xmas and New Year gatherings… j ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3398 "2021-12-22T11:48:08Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Early scientific research in both the UK and South Africa suggests that Omicron results in milder illness, and leads to far lower hospitalization rates. Thanks for that, it looks very interesting. One thing I note is that in that pre-print it states… > Some of this reducton is likely a result of high population immunity. Which could mean that how _many_ people were infected with _what_ variants previously may be key. However, unless SA was riddled with a variant that never reached outside it’s borders then such population immunity would likely be as a result of common variants and vaccinations in much the same way as the rest of the world so age-adjusted risks could be comparable. I look forward to seeing that UK-specific analysis soon as well. Fingers crossed, but if that breaking story is to be believed it still looks like that additional pressure may be placed on the health service in the short term. What will be fascinating is how this upside/downside story gets reported and received. A sigh of relief and a general move away from restriction adherence? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3399 "2021-12-22T12:53:57Z")
> **[Case drop may show South Africa's omicron peak has passed](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-africa-johannesburg-south-africa-f4b59ecde3029295f7b96f2d0ff44042)** > > South Africa’s drop in new COVID-19 cases in recent days may signal the country’s dramatic omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say. It’s summer there, and the population is different from the US. For instance, the average age is 27 And their testing positivity rate is still high. But anecdotally, vaccines look protective > Most of the patients currently being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals are unvaccinated, Uekermann emphasized. About 40% of adult South Africans have been inoculated with two doses. > > “All my patients in ICU are unvaccinated,” Uekermann said. “So our vaccinated people are doing better in this wave, for sure. We have got some patients who are very ill with severe COVID, and these are unvaccinated patients.” ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3400 "2021-12-22T13:08:54Z")
> **[US Army Creates Single Vaccine Against All COVID & SARS Variants,...](https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/12/us-army-creates-single-vaccine-effective-against-all-covid-sars-variants/360089/)** > > Within weeks, Walter Reed researchers expect to announce that human trials show success against Omicron—and even future strains. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3401 "2021-12-22T13:14:38Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And their testing positivity rate is still high. But anecdotally, vaccines look protective I think this has been a very positive aspect that gets missed amongst the figures of lowered vaccination protection against _infection_. The fact remains that double-dosed people still retain a large amount of protection against severe illness and death. Step up to a booster and it is even better and protection against symptomatic infection is up above 75% again. In the UK I’ve not seen the hard figures for omicron hospitalisation but [anecdotally](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/19/london-hospital-staff-speak-out-were-not-here-to-judge-but-please-get-your-covid-vaccines) the general protection afforded by vaccines remains high. > Michael Bartley, a critical care matron at King’s, estimated that “80 to 90%” in the hospital’s critical care beds were unvaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3402 "2021-12-22T13:17:23Z")
That’s great but…I have to say that if vaccines from pharma companies are looked upon with suspicion by some, how much greater will that be for a military vaccine? That’s going to be a tough sell. (for some…not me, science is science) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3403 "2021-12-22T14:11:11Z")
**DC** has hit a new record high (seven day average from Johns Hopkins site) of 1230 yesterday, and is still skyrocketing upward **New York** has a new record of 24,237 cases Puerto Rico has a new record high of 1946 as of yesterday, and is also skyrocketing up. Other states are going up, but the only one that looks poised to set a new record is **Hawaii,** which is climbing rapidly and has 807 cases as of yesterday, below the record high of 921 set on August 20. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3404 "2021-12-22T14:21:45Z")
Interesting but not a surprise, really (IMO): > **[US population growth at lowest rate in pandemic's 1st year](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-health-us-census-bureau-covid-19-pandemic-d224035ee70e805f1e42da6c1a9c079c)** > > U.S. population growth dipped to its lowest rate since the nation’s founding during the first year of the pandemic as the coronavirus curtailed immigration, delayed pregnancies and killed hundreds of thousands of U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3405 "2021-12-22T15:06:20Z")
Can’t find anything online yet but NBC News Radio is reporting Mayor de Blasio has announced that there will be a NYE celebration in Times Square but with some adjustments. No specifics yet as to what those adjustments will be, other than participants will have to show proof of vaccination. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3406 "2021-12-22T18:19:26Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I have to say that if vaccines from pharma companies are looked upon with suspicion by some, how much greater will that be for a military vaccine? That’s a good point. I wonder if the more conservative “vaccine hesitant” crowd would be more confident in a military vaccine. Would those in the National Guard be less hesitant? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3407 "2021-12-22T19:01:04Z")
Here’s some news: > **[Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3408 "2021-12-23T00:48:21Z")
Potentially good news, everyone! > **[Omicron less likely to put you in the hospital, studies say](https://apnews.com/article/omicron-less-likely-to-put-you-in-hospital-ec46b4dbbf55e16b79a3c267ced6a7df)** > > Two new British studies provide some early hints that the omicron variant of the coronavirus may be milder than the delta version. Scientists stress that even if the findings of these early studies hold up, any reductions in severity need to be... ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/3409 "2021-12-23T00:55:43Z")
China is not fucking around: > **[China orders lockdown of up to 13 million people in Xi'an](https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-beijing-xian-667558cdba28a0043db77f480a90ae95)** > > BEIJING (AP) — China ordered the lockdown of as many as 13 million people in neighborhoods and workplaces in the northern city of Xi'an following a spike in coronavirus cases, setting off panic buying just weeks before the country hosts the Winter... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=165) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=167)