A new COVID-19 variant has emerged, serving as a reminder that the coronavirus continues to mutate and spread around the world, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

The variant is called EG.5 and is a descendant of Omicron.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that EG.5 accounted for roughly 17.3 per cent — or one in six — of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in the past two weeks.

  • DMmeYourBoobs@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
    192·
    1 year ago

    The death count is low because immunity is up. If we relax on things like vaccinations or quarantine orders it will come back.

    • ryan213@lemmy.world
      12·
      1 year ago

      There’s already an uptick from wastewater testing for the past few weeks according to CBC.

    • Cyborganism
      51·
      1 year ago

      I think if we get a yearly immunization shot for influenza and covid we should be fine. And people should just quarantine if they’re sick, COVID or not. I hate it when people go to work sick when they have the option to work from home. Especially in an office setting. Like haven’t they learned anything? Why spread the disease to all your colleagues?

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      215·
      1 year ago

      Don’t we have herd immunity now? Having caught it recently is just as good as a vaccination.

      • adderaline@beehaw.orgEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        herd immunity relies on people maintaining immunity. if you can get the vaccine, you should, regardless of if you’ve caught the virus.

        • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Agreed. Both don’t last forever. I got it 4 times, for reference, since I seem to have come a across as an antivaxxer. Either way though I think the pandemic proper is over.

      • Auzy@beehaw.orgEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        Unfortunately as well, there is likely a much higher percentage of nutjobs who think vaccinations are a conspiracy, who are also probably the type of people who don’t use RAT tests and who prioritise themselves over others (so even if they suspect they are sick, they’ll go attend major events, etc).

        Whilst 2 people I know genuinely are good people who don’t believe in vaccination (which again, was at least likely partially facilitated by our dumb PM at the time and Trump), another two I know (who legally SHOULD have gotten vaccinated for work actually, since they work for the government), are two of the worst self-centered people I know