As the pandemic approaches its third anniversary, most people are well and truly bored with COVID-19. With so many of us having recovered from at least one COVID-19 infection, not to mention being vaccinated and/or boosted, it is seductive to believe that catching it again wont matter.
This is particularly true in the Omicron era, where were encouraged to believe that COVID-19 is nothing but a minor sniffle and we must learn to live with the virus. I too have been enjoying largely living life as if the pandemic never happened in recent weeks and months. Ive been to pubs and parties, packed myself onto public transport without a facemask, and entertained various guests with colds. But having just experienced COVID for the third time, I am regretting letting my guard down.
I am not advocating a return to full or even partial lockdowns; I desperately want my kids to continue attending school, and I dont think pubs or restaurants need to stop serving customers indoors either.But as evidence mounts that northern hemisphere countries could experience a new wave of COVID-19 infections as winter approaches, combined with the return of influenza and other everyday illnesses, the onus is on everyone to do what they can to keep themselves and each other healthy.
This latest bout of COVID-19, was my third in less than three years. The first, in March 2020, was characterised by a persistent cough and chest pains; the second, in June 2021, by fatigue and loss of taste and smell (I still suffer from parosmia). Having recovered from these infections, and been vaccinated, and boosted twice I had assumed that were I to catch it again, any illness would be negligible.
Ever since the rise of Omicron, scientists have talked about its relative mildness particularly in healthy people who have been vaccinated, like me. But my third experience of COVID-19 has been my worst yet.
Part of the problem, I think, is that the medical description of mild illness is at odds with the normal perception of mild, such as with mild weather or mild cheese. When doctors and scientists talk about mild COVID-19, what they mean is not severe enough to cause breathing difficulties.
This time, I experienced various cold-like symptoms sore throat, sneezing, runny nose but it was the feverishness and headaches that immobilised me in bed for three days, unable to cook, do anything for my kids, or work. Fortunately, I am gradually starting to feel better, but my experience of mild COVID was easily on par with flu an illness I previously vowed never to catch again. The possibility of going through it all again next year, assuming thats what living with coronavirus means, is already filling me with dread.
Whereas at the start of the pandemic, nobody had any immunity to SARS-CoV-2, nearly three years on, everyones immune systems are on a slightly different learning curve.
Although at the extreme end of the spectrum, reinfections tend to be less severe than peoples first brush with SARS-CoV-2, data from the UKs Office for National Statistics have suggested that the proportion of people reporting symptoms during reinfection varies according to which variants they have been infected with before. When they were infected, relative to their last COVID-19 infection or vaccination, could also influence their symptom severity, because levels of protective antibodies gradually diminish over time.
Then theres how much virus someone is exposed to. According to Ben Krishna, a postdoctoral researcher in immunology and virology at the University of Cambridge, UK, infection with a higher dose of virus (say, if someone with COVID-19 sneezes in your face) could enable higher levels of virus to gain a foothold in the body before the immune system manages to stamp them out, resulting in more severe symptoms.
My last COVID-19 booster was in June, so I was surprised to have come down with it again so soon. My experience shows that boosters do not offer total protection from the disease even though they are very effective in preventing severe disease and death.COVID-19 vaccines have had a massive impact on peoples risk of being hospitalised with or dying from the disease, and are the reason many countries have largely been able to return to normal life, without hospitals being overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, current COVID-19 vaccines still only top-up peoples immune protection for a limited period before their antibody levels begin to drop. They will still be largely protected against severe disease and death, but waning antibodies increase individuals susceptibility to reinfection.
The rationale for some countries launching COVID-19 booster campaigns in the coming weeks and months is to temporarily boost antibodies, reducing the risk of a sharp increase in severe cases, precisely when hospitals are likely to be grappling with a spike in influenza admissions. It is therefore important to take up the offer of a booster vaccine, if you are offered one, but it wont make you invincible.
Then theres the issue of increasingly immune-resistant subvariants. Although the WHO hasnt assigned any new Greek letters since Omicron, the subvariant thats making me sick is likely very different to the one that infected my husband in early March, which was itself quite different to the original BA.1 version of Omicron that emerged in November 2021. The number of new, and potentially worrying Omicron subvariants in circulation right now, is unprecedented.
Unlike the COVID-19 waves we experienced during 2020 and 2021, where a single variant, such as Delta, rapidly outcompeted all others and spread across the world, virologists are currently tracking the growth of multiple subvariants, each carrying overlapping changes to the spike protein, which SARS-CoV-2 uses to grab onto, and infect human cells. Crucially, these mutations affect the ability of antibodies to recognise the virus and block it from infecting us.
Although vaccination and previous COVID infections have left us with other weapons against the virus, its ongoing evolution and individuals waning immunity means that even people who caught COVID-19 in May or June, when the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants took off, could be susceptible to reinfection with the newest crop of subvariants, assuming they continue to spread.
If you are unfortunate enough to be reinfected, it is still likely that your infection will be mild. But mild doesnt necessarily mean trivial. Not everyone has the benefit of sick pay, or a partner who can take over all childcare duties while their other half quarantines in bed. Even for those lucky enough to have these things, the risk of Long COVID still looms large.
COVID-19 isnt just about individual risk. There are still plenty of people in our communities who risk being hospitalised, or developing lasting disability, if they catch COVID-19 even if theyve been vaccinated. This includes people who may look relatively young and healthy. Living life as if theres no pandemic is risky for everyone.
It is also unsustainable. Widespread absences due to COVID-19, flu, or any other infection, risks there being too few teachers, delivery drivers, healthcare staff and other essential workers to keep society running as normal.
Everyone wishes for a return to normal life, but behaving as if there is no COVID-19 will have consequences. Relative normality is another matter. With a few common-sense precautions such as avoiding mixing with people if you are unwell; wearing a good quality facemask in crowded indoor spaces if local case numbers are high (particularly if you are unwell); taking a COVID-19 test if you can; getting a booster vaccine if you are offered one; and keeping indoor spaces ventilated we can all help to keep everyone protected.
Oil-storage tanks are seen from above in Carson, California.
Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images
Oil slid on Tuesday, extending losses of nearly 2% in the previous session, as recession fears and a flare-up in Covid-19 cases in China raised concern over global demand.
World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Monday of a growing risk of global recession and said that inflation remains a continuing problem.
Brent crude fell $1.65, or 1.7%, to $94.56 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.71, or 1.9%, to $89.41.
"There is growing pessimism in the markets now," said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA.
Oil has dropped sharply on economic fears after surging earlier in 2022, when Brent came close to its record high of $147 as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply concerns.
"Warnings after warnings are being issued when it comes to global economic growth," said Avatrade analyst Naeem Aslam.
Those worries aside, fears of a further hit to demand in China also weighed. Authorities have stepped up coronavirus testing in Shanghai and other large cities as COVID-19 infections rise again.
Oil also came under pressure from a strong dollar, which hit multi-year highs on worries about increases to interest rates and escalation of the Ukraine war.
A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite.
Losses were limited, however, by a tight market and last week's decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+, to lower their output target by 2 million barrels per day.
BEIJING, Oct 10 (Reuters) - China called for "patience" with its tough COVID policies and warned against any "war-weariness" as local cases soared to their highest since August, days ahead of a pivotal Communist Party congress.
Many countries are learning to co-exist with COVID-19, but China has repeatedly quashed any speculation of a let-up in its policies, which can range from locking down a local community to an entire city, even though fatalities remain low by global standards and symptoms, if any, are mostly mild.
Pressure on officials to stop outbreaks as soon as they spring up has risen in recent weeks as the highly transmissible Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7 appeared in mainland China for the first time, ensnaring travellers during a just-ended week-long national holiday.
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Across China, 1,939 locally transmitted cases were reported on Oct. 9, the highest since Aug. 20, according to Reuters calculations based on official data published on Monday.
Thousands of cases caused by the BF.7 have been reported in Inner Mongolia since Oct. 1, turning the region into China's latest COVID epicentre and wrecking havoc on travel plans during the National Day "Golden Week" holiday.
A few days into the Golden Week, the western region of Xinjiang also barred people from leaving as cases ticked higher. Tourists stranded in Xinjiang could seek temporary work as electricians, cooks and wood craftsmen, advised authorities in its capital Urumqi.
Shanghai, which locked down its entire population of 25 million in April and May, reported 34 local cases on Oct. 9, the most in almost three months.
"The transmission and pathogenicity (of Omicron) have not weakened, and it still poses a relatively large threat to the elderly and people with underlying diseases," according to a commentary in the state-owned People's Daily on Monday.
"It is for this reason that we must remain vigilant against the spread of the epidemic, increase our confidence and patience in our country's epidemic prevention and control policies, and overcome any numbness of the mind, any war-weariness, any thought of leaving things to chance, and any complacency."
The COVID restrictions came days before a once-every-five-years Communist Party congress starting on Oct. 16, where Xi Jinping is widely expected to extend his decade-long leadership for another five years. read more
Xu, a native from Inner Mongolia who works in Beijing, had planned to take the train back to the Chinese capital on Oct. 7 after attending a friend's wedding in her hometown of Baotou, but has since been trapped there due to a local quarantine lockdown.
"What I worry most now is when I can get to return to Beijing," said Xu, who declined to identify herself further.
"All this waiting around is tough."
While most of the new infections in Shanghai were detected in quarantine, the city's Putuo, Changning and Jiading districts weren't taking any chances, announcing on Monday the suspension of leisure and entertainment venues.
One recent Changning case was a man who arrived from Xinjiang on Oct. 2. He was declared a carrier five days later.
Guests at the hotel where he stayed have been locked down. Patrons to the bars and restaurants he visited have been treated as close contacts.
Sona and her husband were told to quarantine themselves at home after going to an underground bar strip the Changning case visited.
"It wasn't even the same day as the guy was there, and we weren't even at the same (restaurant)," said Sona, a foreigner who has lived in Shanghai for years, speaking on condition of anonymity.
They have not been able to leave their home, as a magnetic device on the door installed by the authorities would track its opening and closing.
"It's really, really hard to deal with - you think it's over, but its not over."
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Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Casey Hall in Shanghai; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Ana Nicolaci da Costa
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Japan welcomed a flood of tourists on Tuesday as pandemic-related travel restrictions in place for more than two years were lifted, the AP reported. The good news in Japan comes as the seven-day average for new COVID cases fell to 38,855 on Monday, down 26% from two weeks ago and the first count below the 40,000 mark since April 18, according to a New York Times tracker. Only five states saw daily cases rise from two weeks ago, led by Maine at 15% and Colorado at 9%. Hospitalizations fell 10% from two weeks to a five-month low of 26,380, while those in intensive care units fell to a four-month low of 3,130. The daily average for deaths was 379, down 9% from two weeks ago.
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UPDATE: Beal has exited protocols. The original article is below.
On Sunday, the Washington Wizards announced that Bradley Beal was placed on the NBAs health and safety protocols. Because of that, he will miss tomorrows game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Given what health and safety protocols mean, deal has likely tested positive for the coronavirus. It is a reminder that the coronavirus is still something that can disrupt the season, though probably not like past seasons. And it is also a good reminder that you should get a booster shot before the winter.
According to the NBA, vaccinated players like Beal are not subject to weekly testing. However unvaccinated players and staff have to unless they recently recovered from the virus.
All players and staff, regardless of vaccination status, must test if they have coronavirus-like symptoms. They must also report any positive cases from close contacts like family.
Beal should be ready to return before the regular season begins, assuming he has no complications.
They Treat Me Like a Piece of S: Raphael Warnocks Church Pays for His Home. Its Also Trying To Evict the Poor From Theirs. Washington Free Beacon
The big day is finally here: Japan is, at last, opening its borders to individual tourists again as of midnight, October 11th 2022 after having locked out leisure travel for the last 2.5 years.
Since Im already in Japan for the past week to monitor and track preparations of the government as well as the hospitality industry I think its a good time to highlight what people can expect when returning.
There has been A LOT of confusion during the past 2.5 years when it came to anything Japan travel related and pretty much all of it was their own doing by sending mixed signals through frequent policy changes / adjustments.
One question we frequently received was about transit flights via Japan en route to another country such as between North American to South East Asia via Tokyo. This was never a problem, provided the ticket was sold in one itinerary and on the same day without airport changes. Ive transited four times in Tokyo-Haneda as well as Narita during the pandemic when the country was closed to tourists and it was fine aside from the rather dull airport experience as most shops were closed.
Last week I entered Japan at Tokyo-Haneda Airport using the visitor visa which I applied for with the help of a business partner in Tokyo and while this will be no longer be necessary starting in a few hours, the fast track system (which I found extremely efficient) will remain in place.
There was also an article in the Japan Times today, highlighting the main requirements once more.
Having arrived at this stage via staggered increments, it can still be a little confusing for those outside Japan many of whom have lost work or school opportunities, struggled to maintain long-distance relationships, or simply found themselves unable to enjoy a culture that they love to figure out just how open the country will become.
Below are answers to the most pressing questions would-be tourists and other arrivals should be asking as they dust off their suitcases, open up those phrase books and get ready once again for a journey to Japan.
From Tuesday, Japan will completely lift its daily cap of 50,000 arrivals and recommence visa-free independent travel for those arriving from any of the 68 countries previously on its short-term visa-exemption list. Travelers from countries not on the visa exemption list remain subject to the same pre-pandemic entry restrictions.
Will I need to book a guided tour?
The short answer no!
Will I need to be tested or vaccinated to enter?
An on-arrival COVID-19 test is no longer required once you get to Japan.
However, to enter, you must still fulfill one of the two following requirements:
In both instances, travelers must fill out a pre-arrival COVID-19 questionnaire, which the government recommends they complete online in advance using their Fast Track service which is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian and an associated app called MySOS, which you can install on your smartphone via QR code or a link.
Do I need to quarantine? What should I do if I get sick?
In principle, visitors will no longer be required to isolate upon arrival, meaning they can move freely other than in cases where they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after arrival in Japan.
In the event a traveler to Japan suspects they may have caught COVID-19 following their arrival, the government recommends that they contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 for an over-the-phone consultation with a health professional who will determine the severity of the case and offer advice on the next steps to take. The service is offered in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Do I need to wear a mask?
As a general rule yes.
The situation is complicated as, despite the governments repeated calls for the public to remove their face masks while outdoors, the majority of Japanese people still continue to wear masks while outside the house, even in situations where overseas travelers might consider it unnecessary.
The government is expected to revise legislation to allow hotel operators the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask.
Entering Japan will be contingent either upon having received three doses of a vaccine and being able to prove it with a government-issued document or by taking a pre-departure PCR test.
As far as the vaccines are concerned, these are the details of what is accepted:
Download (PDF, 336KB)
The MySOS app was very efficient and quite user-friendly, also I had to fumble around with it for a while to figure out which vaccine certificate could be uploaded. I received my BLUE barcode (departing to Japan from Germany) within a few hours of registration.
Arrival at Haneda was very easy. The barcode was scanned twice and then arriving passengers were sent to the immigration counters, where processing took place with less than two minutes of wait. Picking up the suitcase and proceeding through customs was the last formality after which I was free to go.
Situation in Japan Hotels, Public Outdoor Areas, Public Transport
While not mandatory by law, Id say 97% of people are wearing a mask at all times and the vast majority even outdoors. You can handle that as you wish and how it suits the situation. I wear a mask indoors and always on public transportation. Outdoors Im not wearing a mask, and no matter where we went neither myself or my Japanese friends have been hassled about masks.
Weve always worn masks in Japan, especially when we didnt feel well or during train/plane travel so this whole pandemic mask situation wasnt a mirage that suddenly made its way into the life of people living here (or in Korea for that matter).
Restaurants are still equipped with plastic or plexiglass shields which might take away from the dining experience depending on where you go. The New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo has a big screen across the bar table as strangers usually face each other there so this makes total sense. However, rather than having a nice view over Tokyo, you now look through a plastic shield first and that takes away the purpose of visiting the NY Bar as its just a mood killer.
This was the first time in two decades that Ive seen the bar EMPTY on a Saturday night. Even the staff didnt know what happened. That bar feasts off the energy in the room, and unfortunately, there was none, so we left after one drink and ~ 40 minutes.
Service at the hotels was friendly and professional. A lot of the shops were happy to see tourists again, especially those watch- and luxury good stores in Shinjuku and Nakano that used to have a lot of foreign customer traffic. I talked to some of the salespeople today while looking at watches and they hope people come back so that sales pick up again. Even though their Chinese customers probably wont be coming anytime soon. If youre in the market for any such items there are great deals to be had on the Japanese grey market for watches and handbags.
Conclusion
Starting in a few hours from midnight, October 11th 2022 individual tourists can once again re-enter Japan without the need to apply for visas, participate in guided North Korea style tours or have a local contact invite you for business reasons. Visa waiver agreements are all in place again.
Travelers are required to utilize the MySOS App to receive a Barcode for the Fast Track service and upload their vaccine credentials or PCR Test results in preparation for arrival in Japan.
I have a friend who will arrive on Thursday under the new framework and will update the post if there are any significant, noteworthy items that are of interest.
