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In reply to the discussion: The worst virus variant just arrived. The pandemic is not over. [View all]RAB910
(3,529 posts)23. this is panick mongering
Is BA5 unwelcome and will it make things worse? yes
Is the fear-inducing claim and headline justified? no
The obscure names should not hide the punch of BA.5. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, says that BA.5 is the worst version of the virus that weve seen. He adds, It takes immune escape, already extensive, to the next level, and, as a function of that, enhanced transmissibility, well beyond earlier versions of omicron. There has not been a marked increase in hospitalizations and deaths, he reports, because there is so much immunity built up from the winter omicron wave. But there are aspects of this new variant very much worth keeping an eye on as the United States remains stuck at an uncomfortably high plateau of pandemic misery. And the new variants are driving a case surge in Europe.
Now you can't have the part that I put in bold and have "the worst version of the virus we have seen"
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Weren't there a number of articles that were made free, so everyone had access to the latest
halobeam
Jul 2022
#28
What it says is Whether BA.5 will lead to more severe disease isn't clear yet
Phoenix61
Jul 2022
#22
It's also a Los Angeles Times straight-news piece today. Not in the opinion section.
Hekate
Jul 2022
#33
it is not just an opinion piece, it is an official WaPo Editorial by their entire board
Celerity
Jul 2022
#38
But an ignorant trumpointee ended mask mandates! So the pandemic's over! /s
Grokenstein
Jul 2022
#31
Exactly! Even as their own friends and family members drop dead. As the great Ron White said
LoisB
Jul 2022
#59
As someone who has had COVID, even though I had been vaccinated, I do NOT want to have any variant!
Ford_Prefect
Jul 2022
#37
The virus will continue to thrive and evolve, aided by the millions of Americans
Pinback
Jul 2022
#41
If every America 100% followed every rule to 100% degree CV19 would still be around and never
uponit7771
Jul 2022
#69
Currently in US the risk of severe COVID for nominal health vaccinated is already minimal. Severe
uponit7771
Jul 2022
#94
I have two family members hospitalized with Covid now + a girl I know is hospitalized with her 5th
liberal_mama
Jul 2022
#46
There have been multiple large studies showing an increased risk for developing diabetes after Covid
liberal_mama
Jul 2022
#48
Quite a few people posting on social media about having Covid 3 or 4 times
womanofthehills
Jul 2022
#53
True, CV19 along with every other virus including aides will be around for trillions of years ...
uponit7771
Jul 2022
#68
But what about long term effects from repeated infections? I don't want to get Covid 3 or 4x a year
liberal_mama
Jul 2022
#86
I know many people who have Long Covid. My husband had Covid in January and he still has lingering
liberal_mama
Jul 2022
#97