Read on Twitter
1) Today Boris Johnson announced that the U.K. variant may be more deadly.
Once again, we’d like to dispel the huge fear that results from such statements by reminding everyone that this is based on epidemiology and not functional genomics.
But why is this a problem? https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1352667044496465923
Once again, we’d like to dispel the huge fear that results from such statements by reminding everyone that this is based on epidemiology and not functional genomics.
But why is this a problem? https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1352667044496465923
2) Epidemiology is a study of growth and distribution. Effectively it assesses the numbers of people infected with either variant which are used to *infer* an outcome.
It’s super helpful but it skips over a lot of other factors that might be at play. Let’s discuss them.
It’s super helpful but it skips over a lot of other factors that might be at play. Let’s discuss them.
3) No Comparisons.
This is the first time in which C-19 has taken hold in the U.K. in January. Remember it took hold in March 2020! Soo, we have *no* comparative U.K. data.
Increased death rate could be because of the seasonality of respiratory viruses rather than the variant.
This is the first time in which C-19 has taken hold in the U.K. in January. Remember it took hold in March 2020! Soo, we have *no* comparative U.K. data.
Increased death rate could be because of the seasonality of respiratory viruses rather than the variant.
4) Overwhelmed Hospitals
Hospitals are become a huge cesspool for infection, confirmed by our student medic sources in the field. More people are going in for check ups and catching C-19.
These people are *more likely* to have underlying conditions, thus sadly pass.
Hospitals are become a huge cesspool for infection, confirmed by our student medic sources in the field. More people are going in for check ups and catching C-19.
These people are *more likely* to have underlying conditions, thus sadly pass.
5) Abnormal Viral Behaviour
Normally when viruses mutate they evolve to get LESS deadly and LESS transmissible!
For a single set of mutations to make a virus more transmissible and more deadly is incredibly unlikely, but also, not impossible.
It’s just weird.
Normally when viruses mutate they evolve to get LESS deadly and LESS transmissible!
For a single set of mutations to make a virus more transmissible and more deadly is incredibly unlikely, but also, not impossible.
It’s just weird.
6) So, could the variant be more deadly?
Potentially.
Could it be more transmissible?
Potentially.
Is there functional genomic evidence (scientific research on how the variant works) to show us this?
No.
Potentially.
Could it be more transmissible?
Potentially.
Is there functional genomic evidence (scientific research on how the variant works) to show us this?
No.
7) So, chill out. Keep doing what you were doing, washing your hands and avoiding large gatherings.
With vaccination ramping up, C-19 is on its last legs.
With vaccination ramping up, C-19 is on its last legs.
