Current Events > California now has its own variant of COVID-19

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-has-its-own-scary-new-variant-Why-15879547.php

The Bay Areas battle against the COVID-19 pandemic suffered a potentially large setback this weekend, as public health experts sounded the alarm over another new variant of the coronavirus spreading across California and linked to multiple outbreaks. The variant, which is called L452R, is different from the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant that was first found in the United Kingdom, as well as other virus mutations recently identified in South Africa and Brazil. What is troubling is the new variants rapid resurgence over the past few weeks. In mid-December, UCSF researchers had detected the variant in 3.8% of samples from California that they sequenced. By early January, L452R was found in more than 25% of samples.

In California, researchers and public health officials are trying to figure out if the L452R variant is more transmissible than other versions of the coronavirus that have circulated in the state. We do not know whether its more infectious yet, Chiu said. A formal epidemiological investigation needs to be done to establish what we call the R0 (pronounced R-naught), or the potential transmissibility of this particular variant.



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smh thanks a lot California

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This is healthy. The only people that should complain about virus mutation are pharma companies expecting to make windfall on vaccines.

Usually when a virus mutates it does so by trading off another feature which could even be less-morbidity. Humans have been living with and are, in fact, comprised of virus DNA as we incorporate them into our genetics.

"No lethal pandemic lasts forever. The 1918 flu, for example, crisscrossed the globe and claimed tens of millions of lives, yet by 1920, the virus that caused it had become significantly less deadly, causing only ordinary seasonal flu."

more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/will-coronavirus-evolve-be-less-deadly-180976288/

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shironinja posted...

This is healthy. The only people that should complain about virus mutation are pharma companies expecting to make windfall on vaccines.

Usually when a virus mutates it does so by trading off another feature which could even be less-morbidity. Humans have been living with and are, in fact, comprised of virus DNA as we incorporate them into our genetics.

"No lethal pandemic lasts forever. The 1918 flu, for example, crisscrossed the globe and claimed tens of millions of lives, yet by 1920, the virus that caused it had become significantly less deadly, causing only ordinary seasonal flu."

more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/will-coronavirus-evolve-be-less-deadly-180976288/

That's actually a very good point. Do you have a medical background l

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Mutations may not be that big of a concern provided they aren't more lethal. Usually when they mutate, they become less lethal, so that may offset the higher transfer rate. Plus so far every indication is the vaccines work on these new strains.

Can we finally agree that it's time to have a real and enforced lockdown? Stop flights, have the national guard stationed at state borders to prevent interstate travel.

We should arrest anyone who doesn't wear masks for up to 5 years in prison and 5000 dollar fines for anyone who wears a mask that exposes their nose.

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Yuck!

Stay safe and wear the goddammit mask, California CE...

Time to ban Californians from traveling to other states. They been having 30-40k cases a day now we find out they got their own COVID. Ban them like every country is doing to the UK and South Africa.

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Build a wall around california

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Complete

Global

Saturation

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Beemo_Season12 posted...

Yuck!

Stay safe and wear the goddammit mask, California CE...

Its true, a lot of idiots make a lot of drama not wearing masks here.....especially working retail

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I work retail in the Bay Area. People are wearing masks but other than that they act as if there was no pandemic.

I hate seeing couples bring all their children with them to shop. Like geez, how about one of you wait with your kids in the car, outside, or at home. Its one group that does it especially the most but thats all Ill say.

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Not entirely surprising given India, Brazil, Russia, and the UK are the only 4 countries with more total cases than California has on its own.
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but at least you guys saved the economy

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