Wires

While many parts of America prepare to shut down over the spreading threat of Omicron, South African numbers, where Omicron appears to have originated, suggest the hype might not nearly be met by the actual threat, as Omicron appears to be significantly less harmful to humans than the Delta variant is.

South Africa study suggests lower risk of hospitalization with Omicron, but will other countries see the same?

From www.cbsnews.com
2021-12-22 16:53:34

Excerpt:

 

London – People infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus may face less risk of severe illness and hospitalization than those who catch Delta, a new study out of South Africa, which has not yet been peer reviewed, said Wednesday. But scientists warned that the findings could be a result of high levels of population immunity in South Africa due to previous coronavirus infections, and not an indication that Omicron is less severe.

The study found that people in South Africa who were diagnosed with Omicron between October 1 and November 30 were 80% less likely to be hospitalized than those diagnosed with another variant during that period. Once in the hospital during that period, however, the patients — no matter which variant they were diagnosed with — were just as likely to develop severe disease.

But compared to patients who were hospitalized with Delta between April and November, those hospitalized with Omicron in October and November were 70% less likely to…

 

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As many Americans have recently lost healthcare coverage through work after being fired for not being vaccinated, they’re turning to Obamacare to cover the loss, driving the program to record high membership numbers.

Obamacare Sign-Ups Reach Record as Virus Rocks Job-Based Coverage

From www.nytimes.com
2021-12-22 17:06:27
Margot Sanger-Katz
Excerpt:

 

A record number of Americans have signed up for health plans through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces for 2022, after Congress lowered the cost of Obamacare insurance and the pandemic rocked many Americans’ employer-provided coverage.

The Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday that 13.6 million people had enrolled in coverage that will begin on Jan. 1, more than in any previous year of the program. Enrollment remains open until Jan. 15 for those who want coverage that would begin in February.

“What a great day it is to really see how the programs are working as they are intended,” Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which manages the marketplaces, told reporters on a conference call.

The Biden administration has invested heavily in promoting the availability of insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, and expanded the network of professionals available to help people enroll. But Ms….

 

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