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What is the new COVID-19 variant BA.2?

23 Comments
By Prakash Nagarkatti and Mitzi Nagarkatti

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In other words the original virus is mutating and is becoming less virulent day by day.

Time to open up Japan!

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And another strain... Run for the hills, mask up, don't leave your home..... Ugh.

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In other words the original virus is mutating and is becoming less virulent day by day.

You misrepresent the process as if it was continuated and with only one predestined outcome, this is nothing of the sort. Nothing stops the virus from getting more virulent once it already became more easily spread, or can escape immunity against previous variants. This risk do not disappear just because you refuse to acknowledge it. As many countries painfully have understood even with Omicron.

And another strain... Run for the hills, mask up, don't leave your home..... Ugh.

Did you even read the article? its mostly the opposite of your comment.

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the_sicilianToday  09:24 am JST

And another strain... Run for the hills, mask up, don't leave your home..... Ugh.

Exactly. As the article notes,

taking precautions like wearing an N95 mask and social distancing are the best ways to protect yourself from BA.2 and other variants.

virusrexToday  09:51 am JST

As many countries painfully have understood even with Omicron.

Except for China, with its zero covid policy, as every world expert acknowledges.

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Except for China, with its zero covid policy, as every world expert acknowledges.

China already experienced a failure of this model in Hong Kong, and the experts predict a failure even on mainland, it is simply a terribly innefficient way to avoid dealing with the inevitable, New Zealand is the actual model experts are praising because it abandoned the zero covid policy successfully.

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/03/26/china-must-eventually-learn-to-live-with-the-coronavirus

Basically a bad cold

Except it does not, bad colds do not kill people every day, and do not make whole public health systems collapse. Scientific data on thousands over thousands of cases do say Omicron is much more serious and risky than any vaccine booster.

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virusrexMar. 26  06:31 am JST

China already experienced a failure of this model in Hong Kong, and the experts predict a failure even on mainland, it is simply a terribly innefficient way to avoid dealing with the inevitable, New Zealand is the actual model experts are praising because it abandoned the zero covid policy successfully.

Wrong, and you misinterpreted this article, and the link you provided!

Except it does not, bad colds do not kill people every day, and do not make whole public health systems collapse. Scientific data on thousands over thousands of cases do say Omicron is much more serious and risky than any vaccine booster.

What data?

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Wrong, and you misinterpreted this article, and the link you provided!

Just saying an interpretation (took from the reference) is wrong has no value, demonstrate it wrong or just accept that the experts completely contradict you.

What data?

The data that is accummulated and published regularly all over the world that shows complications and deaths over Omicron, even here it is reported daily, "bad colds" do not kill people daily under social distancing measures, one thing is that you want to live in denial of all evidence that disproves what you want to believe, another much different is to pretend other people are doing the same and feign surprise that everybody else can be much better informed about COVID.

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BA.2 is considered to be more transmissible but not more virulent than BA.1. This means that while BA.2 can spread faster than BA.1, it might not make people sicker.

Why wait and find out? Adopt the expert, scientific proven zero covid policy used by China to keep the numbers down.

virusrexMar. 27  07:45 am JST

The data that is accummulated and published regularly all over the world that shows complications and deaths over Omicron,

If the data is published so regularly why do you continue to fail to cite any of that data? Because it does not actually exist, right?

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Why wait and find out? Adopt the expert, scientific proven zero covid policy used by China to keep the numbers down.

Because it causes more damage than what it prevents and as Hong Kong proves it can fail spectacularly because it fails to address the higher Omicron variant transmissibility.

If the data is published so regularly why do you continue to fail to cite any of that data? Because it does not actually exist, right?

Done repeatedly even if you try very hard to ignore every instance, even on this newspaper it is daily reported.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/Tokyo-reports-7-844-new-coronavirus-cases

Pretending to ignore the evidence published on a page where you have alredy commented is deeply irrational, you have already acknoledge this information (that proves the point) so pretending it does not exist is no longer an option.

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virusrexToday  10:44 am JST

Because it causes more damage than what it prevents and as Hong Kong proves it can fail spectacularly because it fails to address the higher Omicron variant transmissibility.

This is not the case in Hong Kong, as experts and scientists agree.

Done repeatedly even if you try very hard to ignore every instance, even on this newspaper it is daily reported. 

This newspaper repeatedly shows how China has had the best results in the world with its strategy.

Pretending to ignore the evidence published on a page where you have alredy commented is deeply irrational, you have already acknoledge this information (that proves the point) so pretending it does not exist is no longer an option.

Not only ignoring evidence, but also inventing experts does not change anything, no matter how hard you try.

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This newspaper repeatedly shows how China has had the best results in the world with its strategy.

Only authoritarian countries would be able to implement China's strategy. So the point of your argument isn't clear, are you saying countries should be more authoritarian like China so as to deal with future pandemics, or...?

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StrangerlandMar. 28  11:52 pm JST

Only authoritarian countries would be able to implement China's strategy. So the point of your argument isn't clear, are you saying countries should be more authoritarian like China so as to deal with future pandemics, or...?

Countries like New Zealand, and Australia that implemented policies similar to China? Why not?

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Countries like New Zealand, and Australia that implemented policies similar to China? Why not?

The ‘similar’ saw the house of cards collapse there.

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JimizoToday  12:45 am JST

The ‘similar’ saw the house of cards collapse there.

That is true--when they let up on the restrictions. They should have stayed the course.

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This is not the case in Hong Kong, as experts and scientists agree.

When you base your argument on the experts, and then are completely unable to actually bring any that says that you only make it clear your personal belief is exactly the opposte of what the experts think, as the article about Hong Kong in this same site proves.

This newspaper repeatedly shows how China has had the best results in the world with its strategy.

No it does not, even if you want to repeat this false conclusion the links provided do exactly the opposite.

Not only ignoring evidence, but also inventing experts does not change anything, no matter how hard you try.

But still you do it repeatedly, which means you already understand your point is false.

Countries like New Zealand, and Australia that implemented policies similar to China? Why not?

Those countries followed the advice of experts when they said this policy was unsustainable and risky and abandoned it with success. This also disproves your personal belief.

That is true--when they let up on the restrictions. They should have stayed the course.

Opposite to what the experts say, once again you are completely unable to provide anybody that matters that says this, you just say your demonstrably wrong opinion come from experts but that is not true.

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virusrexToday  07:57 am JST

When you base your argument on the experts, and then are completely unable to actually bring any that says that you only make it clear your personal belief is exactly the opposte of what the experts think, as the article about Hong Kong in this same site proves.

The experts that you ignore?

Those countries followed the advice of experts when they said this policy was unsustainable and risky and abandoned it with success. This also disproves your personal belief.

So, Australia and NZ have had more success when they relaxed their restrictions? Numbers of infections decreased, and covid related deaths decreased? This gets better and better!

Opposite to what the experts say, once again you are completely unable to provide anybody that matters that says this, you just say your demonstrably wrong opinion come from experts but that is not true.

No, every expert I have provided, and those that appear in this newspaper have been very clear. Amazing you ignore their simple conclusions.

thaonephilToday  10:22 am JST

if a user keeps making things up and giving no reference I think it is clear it is just a joke account or trolling,

I agree.

specially if the only thing he post in every covid article is about the same zero case policy.

If you read the articles here, you would understand the simplicity of that strategy.

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The experts that you ignore?

It is not possible to ignore what has not been presented, not even once.

So, Australia and NZ have had more success when they relaxed their restrictions? 

Yes, which is why they are used as examples of successful control of the pandemic that do not depend on waste of resources and increase of risk. On the other hand the chinese zero covid policy has not been recommended by experts anywhere.

No, every expert I have provided, and those that appear in this newspaper have been very clear.

But then you fail to present even one.

If you read the articles here, you would understand the simplicity of that strategy.

For every problem there is a simple solution that do not solve it, or that causes more problems by itself. Just by looking at who has presented references here this should be crystal clear.

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Basically a bad cold. People that I know personally who've gotten it are saying they had worse reaction to the booster than BA.2.

Yes, Omicron (BA.1 and BA.2) seems to be a great live attenuated vaccine, providing robust, broad, and long-lasting immunity. One problem with severe lock downs (and mass vaccinations) is that they reduce the level of natural immunity. Some countries are now suffering the consequences of their policies...

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virusrexToday  11:39 am JST

It is not possible to ignore what has not been presented, not even once.

True. I am wondering why you ignore those who have been presented many times.

Yes, which is why they are used as examples of successful control of the pandemic that do not depend on waste of resources and increase of risk. On the other hand the chinese zero covid policy has not been recommended by experts anywhere.

Australia is having more success with fewer restrictions? Oh, makes sense then that after the zero covid suppression strategy ended at the end of 2021, Covid related deaths zoomed upward. Just as one example:

As of Jan. 22, 2022 where 3063 Covid related deaths were recorded there, one month later this number increased to 5,000.

This proves that the zero-covid policy was more effective in preventing Covid-related deaths.

Unless you want to fight with the Australian govt. numbers.

You fail to present any experts, any scientific data, and any rational argument that not instituting a zero covid policy results in fewer covid cases, and fewer covid related deaths.

As can be seen from this one example, it is completely opposite of what you are saying.

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Yes, Omicron (BA.1 and BA.2) seems to be a great live attenuated vaccine

No, that is irresponsible disinformation according to the scientific consensus, the infection can't be called "great" when it causes several orders of magnidue more problems and even kill infected patients every day. Only someone that disregard human lives as disposable would call it that way and would try to present it as a better option than the much safer vaccines.

One problem with severe lock downs (and mass vaccinations) is that they reduce the level of natural immunity. 

Since this problem is imaginary and not supported by any scientific information there is no problem in not giving it any importance. Imaginary problems require no solutions.

True. I am wondering why you ignore those who have been presented many times.

The simple fact you are unable to say what you supposedly presented makes it obvious there no such thing.

Exactly zero experts that recommend the policy.

Australia is having more success with fewer restrictions? 

Yes, because the application of the policy had a much more profound effect and caused more problems than what it could prevent, specially with Omicron. Compared with the experience of China in Hong Kong and Shanghai (and other parts of the territory) where deaths have been increasing importantly even with still hemorrhaging resources it is a success. It has only one problem instead of two.

This proves that the zero-covid policy was more effective in preventing Covid-related deaths.

And again, cutting your hand is more effective than anything else in preventing finger injuries, but that can't be called a success, specially when you still get the problems as is happening in China.

I have already presented the experts, published even on this page, so you trying to ignore it has no value, the link can just be copied again to disprove you.

https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/as-virus-cases-surge-can-china's-zero-covid-strategy-hold

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