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Hospitals and GPs across Southern Africa are increasingly reporting that the symptoms of the aggressive new Covid strain Omicron are “unusual but very mild,” according to various media in South Africa this weekend. Around 90 per cent of all new infections in the Johannesburg region are now caused by the Omicron strain but, so far, the Covid death rate and even hospital admissions appear not to be increasing significantly, local media report. Some experts are therefore cautiously optimistic that – if Omicron turns out to be less lethal but more contagious and dominant than the Delta variant – the new mutation may actually be a blessing in the sky. Hundreds of infected people across Southern Africa reportedly complain of nausea, headaches, fatigue and a high pulse rate, but none seem to suffer from a loss of taste or smell, which has been the case with most other Covid mutations. Moreover, more and more medics across Southern Africa are confirming that most Omicron-infected patients merely have a severe headache, nausea or dizziness. Dr Angelique Coetzee told various newspapers in South Africa: “Symptoms are so different and so mild from [non-Omicron] Covid patients I have treated before.” A GP for over three decades, and chair of the South African Medical Association, she was the first African doctor to suggest to local authorities Covid had mutated into a new strain. Coetzee reportedly said the symptoms “did not make immediate sense”, with patients including young people of different backgrounds and ethnicities with fatigue and a young child with a high pulse rate. Looking at the first data coming out of Southern Africa, virologist Marc van Ranst said this weekend that “if the omicron variant is less pathogenic but with greater infectivity, allowing Omicron to replace Delta, this would be very positive.” The WHO warned that preliminary evidence suggests the variant has an increased risk of reinfection and may spread more rapidly than other strains, including Delta. They said there is early evidence to suggest Omicron has an “increased risk of reinfection” and its rapid spread in South Africa suggests it has a “growth advantage”. “It is extremely important we need to closely monitor the clinical data of Omicron patients in South Africa and worldwide,” Van Ranst stressed. The variant has more than 30 mutations – around twice as many as the Delta variant – which make it more transmissible and evade the protection given by prior infection or vaccination. https://www.cityam.com/coronavirus-blessing-in-the-sky-omicron-may-be-very-positive-news-for-the-world-if-new-covid-mutation-kills-off-more-lethal-delta-variant/ So i guess its actually a blessing in diguise?

Covid: South Africa 'punished' for detecting new Omicron variant South Africa has complained it is being punished - instead of applauded - for discovering Omicron, a concerning new variant of Covid-19. The foreign ministry made the statement as countries around the world restricted travel from southern Africa as details of the spread emerged. A statement by the South African foreign ministry on Saturday strongly criticised the travel bans. "Excellent science should be applauded and not punished," it said. The bans were "akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker". The statement added that the reaction had been completely different when new variants were discovered elsewhere in the world. An African Union official told the BBC developed countries were to blame for the emergence of the variant. "What is going on right now is inevitable, it's a result of the world's failure to vaccinate in an equitable, urgent and speedy manner. It is as a result of hoarding [of vaccines] by high-income countries of the world, and quite frankly it is unacceptable," said AU vaccine delivery alliance co-chair Ayoade Alakija. "These travel bans are based in politics, and not in science. It is wrong... Why are we locking away Africa when this virus is already on three continents?" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59442129

Moderna said they are already developing it while pfizer is doing a study to see how effective is the current vaccine (hopefully including booster) and said they can develop the vaccine within 100days. Still, the gap and logistical nightmare might mean it could be much longer than that before enough of us will get the vaccine. Maybe we should just do this. Even the current vaccine is not foolproof from infection, thus we will always need to be vigilant and wear masks, social distancing and avoid crowded places.

Man, that ass is sooo hot and perfect too. If he is really verse, lucky you!

Some repair/renovation on going? Perhaps to make it covid friendly?

Yes! Thanks. Indeed very hot. I take it your army boy is the top? Wish i can see the front lol

And i cant even download it to convert as when clicking it led me to an error page.

Its a .mov format. U need an ios device to view.

Another good news! Up from 9pm, now until 11pm

I see that insurance details were not asked? Im trying to determine whether i should get a separate insurance or ask my current insurance for the policy details if i ever made the leap to travel lol

I meant it will hehe. Doubt itll open sooner than dec 2. Lets just hope they wont delay it

Chi is impressive!

Yeah, thats a bummer indeed. But jupiter is open!

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2222199/ccsa-ends-curfew-eases-more-curbs-to-bolster-tourism Great news indeed.

They have few options, partial refund, full refund in case u would like to stay somewhere else, or allow u to do the pcr on departure instead as some airline/country might require it. Or they can simply ignore and says this bew ruling only apply to new thai pass applicants.

Another potential good news for those still considering travelling to thailand. In summary, proposal to change the requirement from pcr on arrival to antigen rapid test. Lets hope itll pass https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2221647/entering-thailand-may-get-easier-next-month

All hotels that offers the 1 day quarantine will have normal bookings too. Agreed that travellers should read and check, but hotel shouldnt provide misleading details that the traveller can use to apply for the thailand pass. I believe both are definitely at faults, and thai officials also inst exactly blameless too as the requirements set were still too complicated and changed too frequently.

Jupiter announced they will be open dec 2. What will be on offer, only those in bkk can tell.

Since both are already in the sandbox, i dont think u need to worry much. But just in case, when u arrived at the airport, u can always ask at there.

Airasia X are in huge trouble financially. They cant pay their debtor and now malaysia authority are chasing them to refund malaysian customers their money back, instead of just giving credit for future trips. My sympathy to the workers. Locally, airasia is doing ok here, and domestic flights taking off as usual. Though people here do complaint of very limited counter opened for check-in probably due to lack of staff too.

Most from neighboring countries (Asean) are in the visa exempt group. So itll definitely a better choice for us to go to cambodia if thailand current rules are a deal-breaker. For most regular tourists, cambodia definitely looks more attractive now. U do have to purchase their insurance though. I checked and its about usd90 for 20 days.

As long as we passed the dreaded on arrival tests and not amongst those close contact to one who fails, it should be worth the trouble, at least for me. Massage places are open, some boys from bars are freelancing there too. So its definitely worth the trip just for this.

I guess dj station open as a restaurant? I wonder what u can and cannot do since its not opening as a night club