Back Story Newsletter
Good morning,
I am trying not to write this week as I am away for Christmas with family but closely watching the news as always.
We have just flown overseas from London to Miami on a plane where everyone wore masks and respected the Covid rules on British Airways, to a Florida where there is a very different view of the danger.
But with in three days we can see people changing their behaviour out of fear the new variant is spreading quickly.
At first no one was wearing masks in the grocery store. And now you see many more people with masks. At the shopping mall too, more people are donning masks and keeping their distance. But there are many who think they are somehow invincible.
Tests are readily available for Covid, as are the vaccines but its becoming less clear for people. At a walk in clinic I over heard a man ask for his booster, but as he was questioned by the receptionist admitted he has not received vaccines. Obviously a booster is meant to turbo charge your vaccine immunity. But on its own would do little I expect.
That clinic is only offering Johnson and Johnsons vaccine which reportedly offers little or no protection against Omicron, but thats not information that was offered by the clinic to people I saw heard asking for vaccines.
Last night President Biden in a White House address announced 500 million rapid tests free to the public beginning in January to curb the threat of the Omicron variant. He has ordered the deployment of 1,000 military medical professionals and announced new vaccination and testing sites.
“I know you’re tired, really, and I know you’re frustrated,” Biden said, adding, “We all want this to be over, but we’re still in it.”
But Biden was careful to avoid announcing any lockdowns in a country politically charged over mask wearing and vaccinations.
Dr. Anthony Fauci called for Fox News to fire host Jesse Watters who in talking at a Conservative conference suggested someone should “use a kill shot” on him.
"The only thing that I have ever done throughout these two years is to encourage people to practice good public health practices: to get vaccinated, to be careful in public settings, to wear a mask," Fauci said on CNN.
"And for that you have some guy out there saying that people should be giving me a kill shot to ambush me? I mean, what kind of craziness is there in society these days?"
Fox defended Watters saying he was using a metaphor.
Many European countries are now reinstating Covid restrictions as hospitalizations are on the increase. Spain, France, Germany and Portugal to name a few will curb nightclub gatherings and sporting events after Christmas and Finland will order clubs closed from Christmas eve.
Britain is slow to bring in restrictions, likely waiting until after Christmas, but Scotland, Wales and N Ireland have already imposed restrictions on social mixing.
After being discovered last month in South Africa, Omicron has now spread to 38 countries and is becoming the dominant strain.
As the World Health Organization has noted - Covid won’t be taking a holiday break, and the new virus is continuing its rapid spread.
Please have a safe holiday season everyone. Wear a mask. Get a booster if you need one. Keep you and your family safe.
Dana