“China eats weird animals disease”

Since the Omicron variant arrived in late November, the biggest questions have been how fast it spreads, how severe the illness is that it causes, and how much resistance the existing vaccines provide.

Indications so far are that the virus spreads very quickly, but that it isn’t as deadly as prior variants. Now, a new study says the new variant may resist vaccines- to a “striking” degree.

A survey conducted by Columbia University and the University of Hong Kong found that the number of spike mutations “pose a threat to the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies,” with the Omicron variant resistant to all available vaccines, as well as past infection.  

So, that’s that: It won’t be a Merry Christmas after all.

It’s only a matter of time before we’re hit by the full force of omicron infections — a case of, “not if, but when.” And that when won’t take long. That’s what three of Germany’s top researchers said during a virtual nationwide press briefing Wednesday (15.12.2021).

Christoph Neumann-Haefelin, an immunologist at the University Medical Center Freiburg, said omicron will likely become the dominant variant of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, by mid-January — superseding the delta variant, which until now has been one of the most infectious strains since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Ford government considering capacity restrictions, gathering limits due to Omicron spread

Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet is meeting this afternoon to consider additional measures to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, including reduced capacity and gathering limits.

Multiple sources have told CP24 and CTV News Toronto that the government is considering reducing capacity limits to 25 per cent in some sectors and lowering the maximum allowable social gathering size from 25 to 10 indoors.

The sources also say that the government is considering changing the definition of fully immunized to three doses as it ramps up its effort to get everyone 18 and up a booster shot.

There are calls for Ontario to be plunged into yet another dark winter.

But before we go down that road, here are a couple of points that Ontarians who have suffered so much already should consider.

Omicron will likely usher in the worst wave of the pandemic yet, some scientists are warning. But have people grown frustrated, tired and even bored with the “doomsday” messaging?

The speed at which Omicron is spreading and the variant’s intimidating attack rate means people will need to cut their personal contacts by at least 50 per cent in order to buy time for more booster vaccines and “blunt” — and only blunt, and not “flatten” — the coming wave, Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, head of Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table, said Thursday.

"We need to stop moaning, face the reality and do the right thing," said Dr. Peter Jüni, who is calling for 'circuit breaker' measures in Ontario. "What do you do if you're on a beach and the tsunami is coming? …You say, oh there's no tsunami? No, you can't." pic.twitter.com/KE9eJTiZyx

— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) December 16, 2021

CALGARY: The Justice Centre has sent the City of Fredericton a demand letter in relation to its vaccinated-only policy at the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market. The New Brunswick Government owns the landmark farmer’s market, and leases it to the City of Fredericton at a nominal rate. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies, because this is not private property, but property owned and managed by government.

The farmer’s market announced that as of December 11, 2021, “proof of double vaccination (or medical exemption) will be required to shop indoors, for all visitors 12 and over.” The policy, which is the first of its kind in Canada that excludes citizens from purchasing grocery essentials on the basis of vaccination status, claims that it relies on “public health guidelines.” There is growing national and international condemnation of such discriminatory policies.

Given that being “fully vaxxed” means nothing to Omicron why bother with the passport charade at all?

h/t Sweetpea

Ontario reports 3,000+ COVID-19 cases for the first time since early May 2021

Ontario is reporting 3,124 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the highest total reported since early May 2021, with the number of infections among vaccinated and vaccinated people now more closely reflecting their proportions of the general population.

… 2,120 involve fully vaccinated people and 130 have an unknown vaccination status.

Support for COVID-19 lockdowns dwindle as Omicron spreads across Canada: poll

A majority of Canadians say they’re still in support of another lockdown to stop the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a new poll has found.

But despite more than 55 per cent of Canadians showing such support for renewed public health measures, the poll’s results — done by Ipsos exclusively for Global News — also show that the same support is dwindling.

If you are still wearing a single layer cloth mask ‘ditch it,’ head of Ontario’s science table says

If you are using a single-layer cloth mask to protect yourself from a new COVID-19 variant that is believed to be more than six times as infectious as Delta “ditch it, full stop.”

At least that is the message from the scientific director of Ontario’s Science Advisory Table, who tells CP24 that there is likely a need for higher grade masks amid the threat posed by Omicron, particularly for frontline workers.

Unsurprisingly with the arrival of Omicron, Covid is in the headlines once again. But amid the media panic and the catastrophising, many Covid pundits are failing to appreciate a shift in the public mood. According to new research, there is mounting of Covid fatigue in the general public.

Heart attacks skyrocket – and ICUs are overwhelmed from coast to coast.

The COVID-19 vaccines appear to be causing a global health disaster. There are so many warnings from all around the world. I’ll list just a few in this column. But the U.S. media remains silent. They’re as quiet as a church mouse. Why?

Japan’s Ministry of Health just announced that “the Moderna and Pfizer Covid vaccines could cause heart-related side effects in younger males.” Health experts in Japan have witnessed skyrocketing rates of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men and teenagers. And they’ve seen the same nonstop heart issues with middle-aged and older individuals.

Nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have refused the COVID-19 vaccine, the Pentagon said Thursday, potentially setting the stage for thousands of Army personnel to be pushed out of the service in the coming weeks.

A day after its Dec. 15 vaccination deadline, the Army said 468,459 active-duty soldiers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, or about 98%. About 96% of soldiers are fully vaccinated.