Tag Archives: Omicron

“In South Africa it is a lighter disease, but in Europe it has been a serious, serious illness, which is what the politicians want me to say. There has been a lot of pressure from European scientists and politicians who have said ‘Please don’t say it is a mild illness‘.

“They are accusing me of lying, of downplaying Omicron because of how it has been in Europe … in their minds, it is impossible for a disease with more than 38 mutations to be mild.”

Dr Angelique Coetzee, who discovered the ‘Omicron strain’.

Omicron pioneer ‘pressured’ to exaggerate seriousness (SA Daily Telegraph)

This afternoon.

Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin 2.

HSE CEO Paul Reid at the HSE’s weekly Covid update.

Where’s your upgraded mask?

Meanwhile…

Mr Reid has said that there is a much lower level of hospitalisations in proportion to the daily case numbers as was seen in previous waves and variants.

He said that there is plenty of evidence that Omicron “isn’t as impactful or severe at an individual level as previous variants have been“.

However…

Paul Reid has said that it is “really like tackling this wave with one hand tied behind our back” because up to 15,000 of the workforce are out due to Covid.

But he added that the volume of the cases and pace of the rise in cases “continues to put a constraint on our healthcare services“.

Um.

Anyone?

Rise in hospital cases of people with Covid-19 ‘seems to have slowed’ (RTE)

RollingNews

HSE CEO Paul Reid

This morning.

Via RTE News:

Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive Paul Reid has said there has been an acceleration of Covid-19 cases and positivity rates over the last 48 to 72 hours and it would appear that as Ireland exits a Delta wave, it is entering an Omicron wave.

In a worst case scenario, Mr Reid said, the country could be facing a potential 20,000 cases a day.

…..Optimistic modelling estimates case numbers at around 8,000 a day, he said.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Reid said early evidence seems to indicate that Omicron is a less dangerous variant but it is highly transmissible – over five-and-a-half times more transmissible than Delta.

Potential 20,000 daily Covid-19 cases in worst case scenario, says Reid (RTE)

Meanwhile….

Ah here.

RollingNews

This afternoon.

“There are no plans to tighten restrictions further. The restrictions that come into effect today will last until the 30th of January. Of course we can’t rule out easing of restrictions earlier or having to tighten them if there was a sudden deterioration or major deterioration in terms of the picture in our hospitals for example.

“What was announced last week and what comes into effect today is there to apply until the end of January. There is no secret plan for any additional restrictions before Christmas, before the new year or in January.

“But of course the caveat is it’s not possible to rule anything out in this pandemic and I think people appreciate the extent to which the virus has surprised us on a number of occasions, including with the emergence of the omicron variant which is so much more transmissible and has vaccine escape properties.”

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.

Anyone?

Record Covid numbers expected in days to come – Tánaiste (RTÉ)

Thanks Jimmy Jones

Dr Cillian de Gascun, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory

This afternoon.

Tests reportedly show a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Ireland.

Via RTÉ:

The tests were conducted at the National Virus Reference Laboratory.

Dr Cillian de Gascun told a technical briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team that 14 samples were analysed over the weekend.

Eight of the samples underwent whole genome sequencing and one of those eight was confirmed as having the Omicron variant on Tuesday.

Dr De Gascun said it is a travel associated case to one of designated countries, which have confirmed cases of Omicron.

Case of Omicron variant confirmed in Ireland (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

The Sheba Medical Centre, Israel

This afternoon.

Via Haaretz:

The new coronavirus variant, omicron, has been detected in two Israeli doctors, one of whom had returned from a conference in London in the past week, a spokesperson for Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv confirmed.

The two doctors had received three doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, and so far have shown mild COVID-19 symptoms, the hospital said.

The physician who had returned from Britain had probably infected his colleague, it said.

…Israel shut its borders to foreigners from all countries for 14 days on Saturday to try to contain the spread of omicron and has reintroduced counter-terrorism phone-tracking technology to trace contacts of a handful of people who have likely been infected.

Two Doctors in Israel Diagnosed With Omicron COVID Variant (Harretz)

Meanwhile..,

The head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said Covid-19 vaccines will continue to provide protection against new variants.

Emer Cooke added that there were key differences between the situation in Europe and in southern Africa, where the new variant is thought to have originated.

In Europe there was a larger proportion of the population already vaccinated, the population was older, and a booster campaign was already under way, she said.

“So there are a whole lot of factors ongoing at the moment that could impact the spread of the Omicron variants in Europe,” she added.

EMA chief says vaccines will give protection against new variants (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ One.

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Via Dublin Live:

RTE viewers have slammed a segment on Claire Byrne Live last night on toy organisation.

Professional organiser Vera Keohanen explained the best way to tidy your family playroom and what to do with toys that have had their day.

She told Claire that cluttered toy boxes lead to children becoming disinterested and it’s better for toys to be clearly seen and organised.

RTE Claire Byrne Live viewers bewilder over bizarre toy segment (Dublin Live)

Thanks The Dude

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This morning.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said “it is likely” that the new Covid variant is in Ireland.

Via RTÉ News:

In the coming days it is likely that the country will be identifying Omicron cases, he told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne.

He said officials were focusing strongly and urgently on the new variant.

The scientific community is investigating if the new variant is more transmissible, more severe and what impact the vaccine might have on it.

It comes as the leaders of the three Coalition parties are due to meet the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) today to discuss the Omicron variant and the wider Covid situation.

‘Likely’ new Omicron variant is in Ireland – Donnelly (RTE)

RollingNews

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