COVID-19
Former FDA Head: ‘We have so much omicron immunity’, will prevent any new variant from “really taking off”
Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration said there may be some good news on the horizon. In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Gottlieb said he predicts a “backstop” will prevent a new strain of the omicron variant from becoming a problem.
“A fully boosted person may be more protected against this new variant than they were against the original strain of omicron,” said Scott Gottlieb. “So far, based on what we’ve seen out of Denmark and the U.K., which are collecting very good data on this, it doesn’t appear to be a more virulent strain.”
If you’ve been infected with omicron, then “you should be protected” from this strain, he said. “So the mutations in this new version are not in the receptor-binding domain on the spike protein. That’s the portion of the spike protein that we develop our best antibodies against that neutralize the virus” he explained.
“Most of the mutations are in a separate part of the spike protein called the N-terminal domain. So, if you had omicron infection, you should have subsequent infection from this new variant” he added.
Also, as COVID cases continue to decline in “parts of the Northeast, Florida,” and the “mid-Atlantic,” there is the possibility that the new strain will start to pick up, which will stop the current decline.
“The decline will happen nonetheless,” Gottlieb said. “Right now, it represents probably about 5% of infections in the U.S., and we have so much omicron immunity,” which he said will prevent the new variant from “really taking off.”
On Tuesday, the White House announced that Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19 and is not currently showing symptoms.
“Today, Vice President Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on rapid and PCR tests,” said Kirsten Allen, press secretary to the vice president. “She has exhibited no symptoms, will isolate and continue to work from the Vice President’s residence. She has not been a close contact to the President or First Lady due to their respective recent travel schedules. She will follow CDC guidelines and the advice of her physicians. The Vice President will return to the White House when she tests negative.”
Harris wrote on Twitter that she was going to continue to isolate and is showing no symptoms.
“Today I tested positive for COVID-19. I have no symptoms, and I will continue to isolate and follow CDC guidelines. I’m grateful to be both vaccinated and boosted,” Harris tweeted.
Today I tested positive for COVID-19. I have no symptoms, and I will continue to isolate and follow CDC guidelines. I’m grateful to be both vaccinated and boosted.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 26, 2022
Harris last reportedly saw President Biden at the Easter Egg Roll on April 18 before leaving for California, which she returned from on April 25.
The vice president has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and has received two booster shots, receiving the second booster on April 1.
“Yesterday I received my second COVID-19 booster shot,” Harris tweeted on April 2. “We know that getting vaccinated is the best form of protection from this virus and boosters are critical in providing an additional level of protection. If you haven’t received your first booster—do it today.”
Yesterday I received my second COVID-19 booster shot. We know that getting vaccinated is the best form of protection from this virus and boosters are critical in providing an additional level of protection. If you haven’t received your first booster—do it today.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 2, 2022
At least three major U.S. airlines – Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines – have now said they will allow some passengers who were banned from their planes over mask violations to have their flight privileges restored – determined on a case-by-case basis.
On Wednesday, Delta released a statement saying, “At Delta, nothing is more important than the safety and security of our customers and our people. With masks now optional, Delta will restore flight privileges for customers on the mask non-compliance no-fly list only after each case is reviewed and each customer demonstrates an understanding of their expected behavior when flying with us.”
“Any further disregard for the policies that keep us all safe will result in placement on Delta’s permanent no-fly list. Customers who demonstrated egregious behavior and are already on the permanent no-fly list remain barred from flying with Delta,” the statement added.
United Airlines similarly announced it will allow passengers it banned for not following mask rules to be allowed to fly again.
“On a case-by-case basis, we will allow some customers who were previously banned for failing to comply with mask-related rules to fly United again — after ensuring their commitment to follow all crewmember instructions on board,” United Airlines said in a statement.
American Airlines will also allow passengers banned for violating mask rules “to resume travel at some point in time,” according to the company’s chief government affairs officer, Nate Gatten.
“In cases where an incident may have started with face mask noncompliance and escalated into anything involving something more serious, or certainly an assault on one of our key members or customers, those passengers are going to remain on our permanent internal refuse list and will never be allowed to travel with us again,” Gatten said.
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Marianne Garvens
February 1, 2022 at 12:40 pm
What is the name of the newest variant & how does it differ from COVID 19; Delta; Omicron & what’s the projected virility and transmissibility?
Marianne Kosovich
February 3, 2022 at 2:18 pm
Succeeding generations of illnesses ‘tend’ to become more contagious but less virulent.
Their ‘DNA’ per se becomes ‘diluted’ and ‘herd immunity’ increases – especially if the species lactates (passes on antibodies).
mach37
February 4, 2022 at 4:08 pm
So, the Variants are getting their own variants? We are getting spin-offs from the spin-offs of Covid? I didn’t think that was how it worked. Clear thinking in terminology has become a lost art.