General Interest
Multiple early studies find notable Omicron vaccine evasion.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:26h | UTCMultiple early studies find notable Omicron vaccine evasion – CIDRAP
Related: A first, small study suggests Omicron is a larger threat to Covid-19 immunity than other variants.
Opinion: Why are we still isolating vaccinated people for 10 days?
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:24h | UTCWhy Are We Still Isolating Vaccinated People for 10 Days? – The Atlantic
New Zealand to ban smoking for next generation in bid to outlaw habit by 2025 – “New legislation means the legal smoking age will increase every year, to create a smoke-free generation of New Zealanders”.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:12h | UTCNew Zealand to ban smoking for next generation in bid to outlaw habit by 2025 – The Guardian
A first, small study suggests Omicron is a larger threat to Covid-19 immunity than other variants.
8 Dec, 2021 | 10:22h | UTCOriginal Study: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has extensive but incomplete escape of Pfizer BNT162b2 elicited neutralization and requires ACE2 for infection – medRxiv
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
We have completed our first experiments on neutralization of Omicron by Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination elicited immunity
Manuscript available at https://t.co/rGaEB9GdmS
and should be available on medRxiv in the coming days
— Alex Sigal (@sigallab) December 7, 2021
See also (thread – click for more)
New work from AHRI's @sigallab strongly suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron variant escapes antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer vaccine, but that considerable immunity is retained in people who were both vaccinated & previously infected. https://t.co/AZWi3qexin pic.twitter.com/3phPFyKEPh
— Africa Health Research Institute (@AHRI_News) December 7, 2021
Editorial: Omicron is bad, but the global response is worse – “The pandemic will not end while vaccine equity keeps getting pushed to the margins”.
8 Dec, 2021 | 10:07h | UTCOmicron is bad but the global response is worse – Nature
The world has the tools to end the coronavirus pandemic. They’re not being used properly.
7 Dec, 2021 | 10:15h | UTCThe world has the tools to end the coronavirus pandemic. They’re not being used properly – CNN
Perspective | ‘It’s misinformation at worst.’ Weak health studies can do more harm than good, scientists say.
7 Dec, 2021 | 10:17h | UTC
European data on Omicron: Out of 109 cases confirmed so far, all cases for which there is available information on severity were either asymptomatic or mild.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:50h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter:
EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT OF CDC AS OF THIS AM: "All cases [of Omicron] for which there is available information on severity were either asymptomatic or mild. No deaths have been reported among these cases so far.". But let's keep on watching. https://t.co/3jHm4Wezi8
— Monica Gandhi MD, MPH (@MonicaGandhi9) December 3, 2021
Early data from South Africa hints Omicron variant may cause less severe Covid, but more research is needed.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:51h | UTCOriginal report: Tshwane District Omicron Variant Patient Profile – Early Features
Fauci says early reports encouraging about omicron variant – “Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it”.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:47h | UTCFauci says Omicron variant doesn’t look severe, but ‘got to be careful’ – Associated Press
WHO has no reports yet of Omicron Covid deaths.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:48h | UTCWHO has no reports yet of Omicron Covid deaths – MedicalXpress
Commentary on Twitter
Despite #OmnicronVariant's global spread, the WHO says there are no Omicron deaths so far. The agency warns it may take weeks to determine how infectious the variant is, whether it causes more severe illness & how effective antivirals & vaccines are https://t.co/NSN6Ysf3gc pic.twitter.com/Wnp90HvUng
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) December 4, 2021
[Preprint] Preliminary data points to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with the emergence of Omicron variant in South Africa.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:29h | UTCCommentaries:
Global Omicron COVID cases rise as evidence for immune escape grows – CIDRAP
Omicron seems to carry higher Covid reinfection risk, says South Africa – The Guardian
Reinfections three times more likely with Omicron: S. African research – MedicalXpress
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
[Thread] We have updated our preprint on SARS-CoV-2 reinfection trends in South Africa to include data through late November. @hivepi @jd_mathbio @carivs @Dr_Groome @nicd_sa #SACEMAhttps://t.co/yvIRtfQH6I#notyetpeerreviewed https://t.co/EKr8fgJVba
— Juliet Pulliam, PhD (@SACEMAdirector) December 2, 2021
Podcast: The Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCThe Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 – New England Journal of Medicine
Interactive Infographic: Visualizing SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:26h | UTCVisualising SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations – The BMJ
Commentary: New interactive graphic tool illustrates SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations – News Medical
Commentary on Twitter
Is it risky to sing in a choir or eat in a small restaurant? How much difference does it make if I open windows or clean surfaces?
A new #BMJInfographic helps people decide what to do in everyday situations to protect themselves, and others, from covid-19 https://t.co/RMoEwZ9wTz pic.twitter.com/XV9ElCoOGa
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) December 2, 2021
Omicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – “The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection — but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown”.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:19h | UTCOmicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – Nature
Omicron-variant border bans ignore the evidence, say scientists – “Researchers say travel restrictions in response to the newly detected coronavirus variant come too late and could even slow studies of Omicron”.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:20h | UTCOmicron-variant border bans ignore the evidence, say scientists – Nature
How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:18h | UTCHow bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far – Nature
Opinion | Omg, Omicron! Why it’s too soon to panic about COVID vaccines and the new variant.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:16h | UTCOmg, Omicron! Why it’s too soon to panic about COVID vaccines and the new variant – The Conversation
Germany on Thursday announced a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCGermany locks down unvaccinated people, as leaders plan to make shots compulsory – CNN
See also: Germany locks unvaccinated out of public life; mandate looms – Associated Press
Perspective | Harms versus benefits in medicine: not just a decision for experts.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:05h | UTCHarms versus benefits in medicine: not just a decision for experts – The Conversation
The Omicron Variant Is a Mystery. Here’s How Science Will Solve It – “So far, panic about the new Covid variant has outpaced actual information. Here’s what scientists around the world are trying to uncover”.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:08h | UTCThe Omicron Variant Is a Mystery. Here’s How Science Will Solve It – Wired
See also the latest articles on the subject:
Where did ‘weird’ Omicron come from? – Science
We can prevail over Omicron. We just need to use the tools we have – The Guardian
How South African Researchers Identified the Omicron Variant of COVID – The New Yorker
The omicron variant has been found in 23 countries – NPR
These countries have found cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant so far – CNN
Scientists say it will take weeks to tell how dangerous Omicron really is. Here’s why – CNN
Coronavirus variants: Here’s what we know – CNN
To catch variants like omicron, the world needs to sequence way more virus genes – Vox
Omicron’s Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios – The Atlantic
Africa: tackle HIV and COVID-19 together – Nature
The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters – NPR
A reason for optimism on Omicron: Our immune systems are not blank slates – STAT
Omicron – Science-Based Medicine
Covid: Omicron may require ‘very stringent response’, say Sage scientists – BBC
WHO warns against Omicron travel bans as nations shut borders – MedicalXpress
Israeli doctor believes he caught Omicron variant of Covid in London – The Guardian
First case of Omicron coronavirus variant identified in the U.S. – STAT
World Health Assembly agrees to launch process to develop historic global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:03h | UTCCommentary: Standing Ovation as WHO Member States Commit to Negotiating New Pandemic Accord – Health Policy Watch
WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).
1 Dec, 2021 | 10:02h | UTCCommentary: Over-60s, vulnerable should postpone travel due to Omicron: WHO – MedicalXpress
See also the latest articles on the subject:
WHO pleads for ‘rational’ Omicron response – MedicalXpress
Omicron: WHO warns of ‘high infection risk’ around globe – BBC
Video: Why Omicron is the most worrying Covid variant yet – video explainer – The Guardian
Doctors hope Omicron causes milder cases of Covid — but it’s still too early to say – STAT
Doctor: Many South Africans ill in surge have mild symptoms – Associated Press
New Findings Show the Omicron Variant Spread Widely At a Faster Pace Than Initially Thought – TIME
Why some researchers think the omicron variant could be the most infectious one yet – NPR
Omicron Covid variant ‘present in Europe at least 10 days ago’ – The Guardian
Netherlands says Omicron variant was already in country earlier than previously thought – CNN
Netherlands detections hint at earlier Omicron spread – CIDRAP
Epidemiologist awaits clearer picture on omicron – Harvard University
Pfizer research head envisions a sprint to develop Omicron vaccine, if it’s needed – STAT
Moderna boss predicts current vaccines may be less effective against Omicron – The Guardian
Travel restrictions by country following the Omicron variant outbreak – CNN
Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Hinges on Trust: Science alone won’t pull us out of the pandemic.
1 Dec, 2021 | 09:47h | UTCEnding the COVID-19 Pandemic Hinges on Trust – Think Global Health
Commentary on Twitter
Despite the availability of effective vaccines, deaths from #COVID in 2021 are two-thirds greater than the # of COVID-related deaths in 2020. @TomBollyky & @IHME_UW's Chris Troeger say trust—and the lack of it—has played a crucial role in the pandemic.https://t.co/8NiItD1wdc
— Think Global Health (@ThinkGlobalHlth) November 30, 2021
Using wearable data, a real-time alerting system can be used for the early detection of Covid-19 and other stress events.
1 Dec, 2021 | 09:59h | UTCReal-time alerting system for COVID-19 and other stress events using wearable data – Nature Medicine
Commentary: Scientists develop a smartwatch-based device for early detection of COVID-19 – News Medical
Commentary on Twitter
A study in @NatureMedicine shows that a smartwatch-based alerting system was able to detect pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a high percentage of cases. https://t.co/tquzpYa4pV pic.twitter.com/VIq3phKZ7J
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) November 30, 2021