COVID-19
Since pivoting from the strategy of “slowing the spread” to
attempting to stop all infections, the Federal public health “one size fits
all” approach from the CDC to the NIAID has been an abject failure. Guidance
and mitigation efforts have been haphazard and have concentrated far too much
on vaccinations to control the pandemic. The use of therapeutics has been largely
dismissed as an effective treatment option by Federal public health officials. Current
vaccinations are proving ineffective in slowing the infection rate and
transmission of the new Omicron variant and the infection numbers have
skyrocketed. Thankfully, the hospitalization and death rates are not following
suit and continue to decrease in relation to the infection rate.
Federal public health policy has, unfortunately put all their eggs
into one basket, and our nation has suffered great losses to our economic
system, adversely affected our children’s learning and emotional development,
led to an increase in mental health disorders, drug overdoses, suicides and
criminality. Far too many of our fellow citizens have suffered and died as the
result of what should be considered medical malfeasance by our Federal public health
officials.
The dominant variant of COVID-19 is the Omicron, causing more than
90% of all infections worldwide. A recent study from South Africa indicates
that this variant is extremely contagious, but the vast majority of those
infected suffer mild or no symptoms with a low rate of hospitalizations. This
variant follows the normal trajectory of viruses as they mutate. Higher rate of
transmission with a lower rate of severe symptoms and lethality.
Pfizer will not have an effective vaccine to combat the Omicron
variant until March. If the course of the disease mirrors what has occurred in
South Africa, the need for that vaccine will likely have passed.
It is time that we strongly consider the fact that the pandemic
phase of this disease is ending and that public health, at the local and State
level, pivot to acknowledging the reality that we are entering the endemic
phase of this disease. We need to concentrate on manufacturing and distributing
effective therapeutics to manage symptomatic individuals and to continue to develop
vaccines that are effective in mitigating symptoms of any new variants. Dr.
Fauci stated on Wednesday, that we will never eradicate COVID-19. We also need
to acknowledge that reality.
The published study of Omicron in South Africa; The
wave increased at a faster rate than previous waves, completely displacing the
Delta variant within weeks and began its decline in both cases and hospital
admissions in the fifth week following its commencement.
There are clear signs
that case and admission rates in South-Africa may decline further over the next
few weeks. If this pattern continues and is repeated globally, we are likely to
see a complete decoupling of case and death rates suggesting that Omicron may
be a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the Covid pandemic ushering
in its endemic phase.
CDC Director Walensky testified before Congress, when
compared to delta, infections with omicron were associated with a 53% reduction
in adjusted risk of symptomatic hospitalization, displayed in the first panel;
a 74% reduction in adjusted risk of ICU admission, displayed in the middle
panel; and a 91% reduction in adjusted risk of mortality, displayed on the
third panel.
No patients with omicron required mechanical
ventilation. Additionally, this study found that those infected with omicron
who were hospitalized had a shorter duration of hospital stay compared to those
with delta. The duration of hospital stays was approximately 70% shorter, with
the median of stays being 1.5 days for omicron compared to about 5 days for
delta.
Looking at all hospital admissions for omicron, 90%
of patients were expected to be discharged from the hospital in three days or
less.
Sorry about all of you that are totally immersed in relying
upon the government to keep you safe. The…...Pandemic…….is……..over!!!!!
