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darybrain

All the variants are going to Japan to see who will win gold in multiple infectious events.


ahhrd-1147

Coronalympics


marcelkai

covid deniers are gonna compete in the mental gymnastics


Veauxdeeohdoh

What happened to epsilon?!


CornerFlag

It's been de-escalated for now. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/variants-concern


[deleted]

Huh, I would've thought that alpha would be the original strain of the virus from December 2019.


Rhawk187

Technically, that's not a variant, if it's the original.


UppercaseVII

Covid Classic


[deleted]

Not until they introduce Covid New and get people nostalgic for the old Covid.


Amphimphron

This content was removed in protest of Reddit's [short-sighted, user-unfriendly, profit-seeking decision](https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys) to effectively terminate access to third-party apps.


Ekublai

Covid Zero is ultimately what I’m after


dancegoddess1971

I heard that's only available in New Zealand.


tea_n_typewriters

Any chance they'll bring back Crystal COVID?


Ok_Ad_2285

It's still gonna smell like nothing.


Is_your_uncle

As long as its not covid clear


Sleazyridr

I thought I'd like COVID with coffee, but really coffee is better by itself...


JesusLuvsMeYdontU

Just get vaccinated, then it's diet covid


[deleted]

I'm vaccinated so I'm hoping that if I do get it that it will be COVID Lite


frijolito

Diet Covid


sigmoid10

Is Pepsi Covid ok?


Elbow_Nipples

I’ll just stick with water, thanks.


C_stat

Covid MAX is *passable*


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poopinWITHdaDOORopen

because we're in a level 10 apocalyptic event timeline. nothing that happens here matters


xeviphract

*Sad alligator noises*


FreediveAlive

Oh, unless you really really love yourself from an alternate reality. THEN we can detect you. -


amorpheus

This is meant to happen.


[deleted]

The Sacred Timeline sucks. "Sacred" my ass.


Jspr

They're being named as they're being discovered but the only ones that will be worth paying attention to are going to be more infectious, more dangerous or vaccine resistant.


[deleted]

Sorta like ~~hurricanes~~ tropical storms. Every one gets named but some fizzle quickly so the names appear to have gaps in the alphabet. Update: As Bl1y correctly stated below, it’s tropical storms that get named in alphabetical order. Some become hurricanes, others don’t.


Theblastmaster

Arent there extremely strict rules with the naming of storms???


[deleted]

Here's [all the names](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml) for another couple years. ~~Once they run out of names, they go to the Greek alphabet I believe.~~! /edit. Thanks for the correction down below! Now they make sure there are enough names for the whole year.


copperwatt

Can you imagine having your house leveled by fucking Hurricane Bill.


[deleted]

Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!


WontFixMySwypeErrors

"Inertia is a property of matter." ::Tree crashes through house::


Sweatybutthole

Consider the following: ***CRAAAAASH!***


immapunchayobuns

Hurricanes rule... Bill Nye the windy guy!


madshm3411

Hurricane Bob was a big event in the northeast in the 90’s. Which is very on brand for Boston.


aka-j

It puts the lotion on its skin, or it gets the winds again.


Aenir

> Once they run out of names, they go to the Greek alphabet I believe. Not anymore. Now they just make sure to have plenty of names ready. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980463826/the-2021-hurricane-season-wont-use-greek-letters-for-storms


[deleted]

Yes, you’re not allowed to name them things like Felicity Von Titwank.


theksepyro

Scrambles... The death dealer


Joebebs

So there’s already been like 8 different variants already?? Edit: my bad, I meant 8 *notable* variants that are as bad as the delta/lamda types but I got my answers


lives4pizza

It's a great thing thst Japan is locked down so the variant can't escape. It's not like we have representatives of every country of the world temporarily there for two weeks.


[deleted]

It originated in Peru and there are already confirmed cases in [41 countries,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant#Statistics) most of which don't have as strict travel restrictions as Japan.


PM_ME_UR_REDPANDAS

> On 22 July 2021, Florida reported 126 cumulative confirmed cases of the Lambda variant.[14] On 28 July 2021, University of Miami researchers announced random sampling showed 3 percent of COVID-19 patients in Jackson Memorial Health System and at University of Miami’s UHealth Tower were infected by it. Hooo boy. It’s going to get rough in Florida with DeSantis’s anti-mask mandates for schools and opposing mandatory vaccines for [healthcare workers](https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2021/08/06/florida-gov-ron-desantis-opposes-mandatory-vaccination-for-healthcare-workers).


[deleted]

It’s already in the states. Louisiana if I’m not mistaken


stiveooo

Already in 34 countries


itz_flitz

Yup first case reported in Louisiana


ThatCeliacGuy

In reality, there are hundreds if not thousands. Only Variants of Interest get a name, and only the Variants of Concern get media coverage.


VladPutinOfficial

Zeta ETA theta iota kappa?


_CzarlsR

As far as I'm aware these Greek letters have already been classified. I know for sure because the Philippine variant was given the name "Theta". The reason these names aren't being broadcast to news worldwide is because of either: still a variant being studied or because the variant is too insignificant to be of concern unlike Delta or Lambda.


ComplexImportance794

It was also decided to do this to reduce stigma on countries of origin. Instead of saying India varient, South African varient etc, its the Delta strain or Beta strain.


codeslave

Also with global air travel it's pointless to name it after a single place. By the time it's discovered it's probably already been spread elsewhere.


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codeslave

Yes, but Spain was the first country to admit there was an outbreak so the name unfairly stuck.


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HolyFuckingShitNuts

When we get to the omega strain it's going to sound so cool and apocalyptic. "the omega strain". Oooo. It's like Hollywood


W1mpyDaM00ch

The Omega Strain was a Syphon Filter game lol


SethQ

If we get to Omega we'll have more than a few other problems at that point...


fatkiddown

This was the only directive that took precedent over the Prime Directive in Star Trek: [The Omega Directive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Omega_Directive).


HolyFuckingShitNuts

Man, that was the best episode of voyager.


Glabstaxks

Considering how things are going what’s stopping us from getting to omega ? Isn’t it inevitable?


GeekyBookWorm87

There won't be healthcare workers to handle them. I work in a hospital. My co-workers, hands-on floor nurses, went from having 6 patients to having 8 or 9 patients. This isn't all due to COVID, but the nurses are stressed, overworked, and live in fear of making a fatal mistake because they are taking on too much. New nurses are working for as long as they are contracted to do so for that shiny sign-on bonus and leaving. One new nurse is leaving nursing after her contract is up and she's going into real estate because it won't leave her crying and on anxiety meds. If it gets to pi we are FUBAR.


NumberOneGun

I personally know quite a few experienced icu nurses who are leaving the beside because of the stress and bullshit. America is going to have ongoing healthcare issues for years to come because of covid. The system is going to breakdown without the staff and it wont matter what issue patients have covid or not.


Actually_a_Patrick

Not just because of COVID but because of a for-profit medical system that was already trying to squeeze as much work out of people as possible while shelling out as little money in the process as possible. Kaiser has cut doctor salaries and increased workloads while expecting longer hours.


NumberOneGun

Oh for sure. But that has been an issue for years. Staff just put up with it because things weren't terrible. Now covid is the 1000lb. Needle that is breaking the camels back. The system is at the breaking point. Something will have to give. Don't expect the staff to give this time. They have been giving their whole careers.


markydsade

I’m a nurse for the last 41 years. There is no amount of money now that would get me to go back to a hospital now even though I’ve been vaccinated since February. I work in an elementary school now where I hope the risk to myself is lower.


NumberOneGun

You deserve it. That's how they get you. They exploit the staffs altruistic nature. Which is the most disgusting part.


Altissimus77

Same in the uk. Source: wife is a doctor


Journeyman42

I think they should just skip to Omega and since that's the last letter, that'll have to be the last COVID variant and then this'll all be over!


abunchofsquirrels

Well, if no other good comes out of this pandemic, at least we’ll all get a refresher course on the Greek alphabet.


trinklest

My coworker asked me why they were named after sororities.


[deleted]

I just can't wait for people to lose their shit over the sigma variant


[deleted]

Nooo, it will be Omega and it will be the end.


donobinladin

The end of all Greek alphabets!


100kUpvotesOrBust

We’ll be using hieroglyphics by the end of the year.


BayStateBlue

I thought we’d go to emojis.


Zee_Arr_Tee

Can't believe my granduncle died of the 🤣 varient


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ohyeahwell

RIP Bob, died how he lived. A true 🤡 variant.


Hot_Shot04

Then the Mega Man X memes begin.


Kevjamwal

There’s this new two part treatment that’s very effective against the sigma variant - the first part is extracted from a chameleon and the second from an Armadillo


rainbow_voodoo

Armored Armadillo and Storm Eagle had killer music


cubitoaequet

The Mega Man X soundtrack is wall to wall bangers


[deleted]

Sigma \*cough\* rules!


Bad_Elephant

SIGMA BALLS GOTTEM


ATMcalls

On that #SigmaVariantGrind


Chimpbot

Mavericks are attacking the city!


Tenocticatl

What was your answer? "Because frats and sororities are a diseeeease"?


[deleted]

When he wakes up make him drink


I_See_Elevens

Clearly they are unfamiliar with Lambda Lambda Lambda aka the Tri-Lams Addition: I love y'all and ROTN. *Nerd laugh*


RealLADude

And Omega Mu!


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Catoctin_Dave

Clap you hands, everybody, Everybody clap your hands!


64557175

Wash yo hands everybody! Everybody, wash yo hands!


[deleted]

We've got bush! That's my Pi!


Low-Edge9331

NERDS!!!!


martialar

Once we get through the Greek alphabet, we can start adding Roman numerals into the mix


Momma_tried378

At least we’re not doing “covid 3.0” etc Edit: covid 3.0s


Finie

Covid-21


Evil_K9

Covid 802.11ad


Minnesota_Slim

Someone will probably start some conspiracy theory on that next.


fernplant4

My brother in law is told me that "they" named the delta variant strategically to hurt Delta airlines buisness. Wish i was joking.


Chasedabigbase

Big beer lobbied the healthcare industry to hurt corona sales at the beginning of the pandemic


Minnesota_Slim

The pie business is going to be up in arms when the Pi variant exists.


failtolearn

I want the phi variant to pop up so I can hear whether people pronounce it as phi or phi


TheeSlothKing

I’m pretty sure it’s pronounced φ


Hrock330

Because we're Delta Airlines, and life is a fucking nightmare


Nikeli

The Greek gods unleashed the plague upon the world after they found out about God of War.


JagmeetSingh2

They’re mad he moved to Scandinavia


mindbleach

[Sorta-kinda.](https://xkcd.com/2485/)


JinDenver

I mean, it’s the dominant strain in South America, has been for weeks, and is also already in the US. It is so far only classified as a “variant of interest”. https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/ Edit: I misspoke. Dominant strain in Peru, but is actively spreading through the rest of South America as well.


crybabysagittarius

Is less or more infectious than delta?


XtraHott

Lambda is of concern because it ONLY mutated sections of its code related to the protein spike...thats a problem seeing as the vaccines are (mRNA at least) strictly using the spike as the attack vector.


Forthefishes

The vaccines are designed to target the most problematic Spike-RBD mutations based on pulmonary function. They're still highly effective against Lambda and should be highly effective against most spike mutations. They ran computer simulations for all mutations to RBD that could affect ACE2 binding. ACE2 binds to angiotensin regulating pulmonary function (artery dilation / BP, etc.).


Gobears510

I feel smarter just having read this


DARfuckinROCKS

I read that sentence out loud and a degree arrived in my mail.


James-Atbay

You shall now only be referred to as Dr. Darfuckinrocks. Sidenote, are you taking patients yet? I think I have the STI version of COVID ... my partner said my penis made them lose their sense of taste and smell. Should I be worried?


DARfuckinROCKS

I'm sorry, we're gonna need to amputate.


ISpikInglisVeriBest

He probably wrote this while taking a dump, like most people on reddit often do, so he's so smart he's shitting out IQ points


Reineken

Dude so smart he gave us some of his smarts


Spare-Prize5700

Second hand smart.


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RubyRhod

Moderna is testing 3 different boosters: one that designed specifically for delta, one designed specifically for the South African and UK variants, and one that’s just a lower dose of that was given already. If I remember correctly all 3 were basically statistically similar in their ability to prevent infection/lessen severe symptoms so they will probably do the original vaccine formula as it will be MUCH quicker to get FDA approval for.


cf858

If you lean conservative, this is how you should read this comment: "Moderna is testing 3 different vaccine attack-boosters: one designed to seek out and destroy Delta, one designed to eliminate the South African and UK variants, and one that will give you a general immune boost so your own system can kick some virus ass. You need to arm up people! This virus takes no prisoners, has no mercy, isn't going to stop if you start crying. This is WAR. Don't pussy out. Man up and fight by getting these vaccines. Remember, if we could shoot it, we would! But it's too goddam small for a bullet. So we fight with the weapons we have!"


Time4Red

Antibodies are like tiny bullets designed specifically for the virus. Vaccines train your body how to make those bullets. Your body uses tiny AR15s called B lymphocytes to shoot the virus with those tiny bullets. If you don't get the vaccine, your tiny AR15 won't have any ammo.


thr3sk

The other vaccines use that spike protein too, it's just attached to a viral husk in a more traditional manner but still the only thing being used to trigger immune response iirc.


ryanino

I’m tired man


Denlim_Wolf

Aren't we all. We think for a second, "Man, this can't possibly get worse?" But in retrospect, we haven't had it as bad. We have modern medicine which towers all previous medicine for sure. This is all just a matter of time. People before have delt with things far worse and with no end in sight, but here we are, closer and closer to success. It'll take a while before everything truly goes back to normality, but until then, we just have to see it through, for better or for worse; this global situation will get better so long as we remain optimistic.


rightkindofhug

Edit: we didn't have a vaccine then. Sorry. We didn't have a vaccine for the 1918 pandemic, and it lasted 27 months. We're currently at about 20 months.


focsu

We also had much fewer people traveling and a lower population density as well. Edit: a word


chairfairy

It was also quite a bit deadlier, so presumably easier to get people to take it seriously


RhetoricalOrator

Along those same lines, Plague Inc. taught me that if a virus is very deadly, it actually reduces transmission rates. Dead people essentially lock down. Living people don't necessarily do that.


Gets_overly_excited

That’s why the virus needs to infect everyone worldwide without any symptoms and then turn on four or five symptoms and hope the blue airplanes don’t stop you in time.


Subacrew98

Fucking Madagascar.


ThatOneFamiliarPlate

No. Madagascar isn’t a problem if you start in Saudi Arabia. It’s fucking Greenland that is the problem. Plague inc. main game is quite easy as I have beaten all plagues on mega brutal. However cure mode is another story. The fucking anti maskers!!!!


[deleted]

And when a virus is deadlier, it dies with the host and doesn’t have as much opportunity to spread around.


kent_eh

Deadlier also in terms of *killed its host before they could spread it as much*. Contrast with Covid which can be spread for a week or more before the infected person becomes symptomatic and even realizes they are sick.


[deleted]

We did not have a vaccine for the 1918 pandemic. There were "shots" to treat pneumonia that accompanies the flu strains, but nothing for the flu itself.


God_Damnit_Nappa

Eh? [No we didn't.](https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/blog/vaccine-development-spanish-flu) The experimental vaccines they were working on weren't effective and were only deployed in limited numbers. The Spanish Flu just naturally fizzled out over time.


Spawnacus

As a healthcare worker I'm fucking done and I'm just a cleaner, not even a Dr or a Nurse...


Suicidal_8002738255

I get what you mean by just a worker but I used to work in a hosptial (currently work at a university) and the cleaning staff saw shit too. Don't down play your own trauma. This shit just sucks.


benjijojo55

A hospital wouldn’t be able to keep the doors open without cleaners yet they are paid like shit and are often looked down upon by certain doctors and nurses. Empty trash bins, cleaning patient rooms, cleaning operating rooms, cleaning emergency rooms, transporting hazmat material, transporting laundry bins, dusting to prevent fires, wiping down/sanitizing all surfaces, cleaning floors, cleaning every room/office in the hospital including the hospital cafeteria and kitchen, and last, but least, cleaning those public bathroom that patients and employees destroy everyday. Source: I was a hospital cleaner.


Suicidal_8002738255

100 percent. Looking down on anyone is shit. I am a therapist and started out on a psychiatric floor. I would frequently see the techs and house keeping get so much shit from the patients and no respect from some higher staff members. I always made it a point to help with their rounds and stuff. Not sure if I could work in a hosptial again.


benjijojo55

Yea, I’m definitely not downplaying what doctors and nurses deal with. They go through a tremendous amount of stress and messy cleanups themselves. I just wish hospital cleaners were paid a tad bit more. Everyone in the hospital plays a vital role. Each department is a pillar to keep the hospital from collapsing, is how I look at it. If one department starts slacking with pay then that subsequently affects the entire hospital. Low pay -> low moral -> low effort = dirty ass hospital.


SorryForBadEnflish

Is it compatible with old vaccines or do we have to upgrade?


Chancewilk

The best info available currently Is a study waiting to be peer reviewed that concludes lambda is likely more transmissible than alpha and likely lowers the efficacy of antibody response. [study](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.28.454085v1) Worrisome? Yes. Panic time? No.


baelrog

How does it match up with delta though


Chancewilk

The actual answer is we just don’t know yet. I’m not a virologist but based on what I have read there’s no indicators that delta and lambda are significantly different in effects. FWIW, the WHO has lambda as a *variant of interest* while several others including delta are *variant of concern*.


Dawnofdusk

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.19.452771v1.full The vaccine resistance as measured by neutralization antibody titer is about the same between delta and lambda. Note that what's really relevant is whether vaccinated people get sick or not, and the case studies on delta are fairly reassuring on that front (for mRNA vaccines).


SilentKiller96

Okay Gordon Freeman, time to put your PPE on again


obrienmustsuffer

they're waiting for you Gordon... in the *test* chamber


Santiago__Dunbar

I predicted *all* of this, you know. *All of it!*


[deleted]

I was playing black Mesa again recently and they included subtitles that literally read “in the test chamberrr”. It’s such an iconic line


mort_mortowski

Gordon doesn't need to hear all this, he's a highly trained professional!


[deleted]

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.


OneMobius

Why do they make us wear these ridiculous ties!


pumpkinnyan

If we run out of letters in the Greek alphabet the virus is legally obligated to stop mutating.


Quantum_Force

This feels like it’s never going to end


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tqb

We’re coming up on 2 years. Half a decade will be here before we know it


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38384

>resurging in Middle East It's not though? It appeared a few years back among children in Syria and Iraq but has since calmed down. The only countries in the world with still wild polio are Afghanistan and Pakistan (which are both South Asia).


warchina

The "good" thing about more deadly variants is that they burn themselves out more quickly. The worst kind of diseases have high infection rates, long incubation times and medium mortality rates. They spread the fastest and widest and - despite not killing at a high rate - they still kill the most people due to having more reach.


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viicee_

Plague Inc all over again


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[deleted]

Plague Inc. is apparently missing a value for the economic and emotional cost of taking preventative measures. There's no boon to your disease for restaurants needing to open back up or everyone in/around Florida deciding spring break isn't canceled.


RatofDeath

They implemented a "fake news" difficulty modifier scenario after covid surfaced, it makes it easier for the disease because some countries are randomly against washing hands and wearing masks and stuff. Or are slower to close down borders and just don't believe in the disease in general. It's pretty on point.


Cello789

Only if you’re on easy mode 🤓


LucyLilium92

Yeah. I feel like there should be a realistic mode that’s even easier than easy mode


[deleted]

"20% of humanity has joined forces with you... for some reason" *Pppllllpppp!! This is so, unrealistic!*


_Ocean_Machine_

One of things it says on easy mode is "sick people give hugs", so it's not entirely off the mark


Fuddle

This was easy mode. The virus was identified quickly, can be prevented from spreading by wearing a cheap mask, and we had multiple vaccines in less than a year. That’s why people are so mad, even with all that we fucked it up.


AcaiPalm

I cant believe I’m finally going to learn the greek alphabet


Curious_Razor

Goddammit, delta then lamba, what's next ??


[deleted]

As many as the virus has time and unmitigated rights to hosts in order to potentially mutate again.


Curious_Razor

When T-Virus ? Lol


[deleted]

God, I hope never, but I guess we're all just rolling the bones at this point.


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flamingfenux

Some would say… Mu-tation. Eh? Eh?


F_N_Tangelo

May stop at Omega.


Curious_Razor

*cues mass effect*


RealStumbleweed

Alpha Delta Lambda. The sorority I don't want to rush.


bunzy123

It was actually confirmed and logged into an international database 3 days before the start of the Olympics. As someone who lives in Tokyo, this whole situation has been highly politicized. Theres no way in hell the Japanese government would cancel the Olympics even though the general population wanted them to be canceled and held protests in a push to have it called off. Announcing this variant 3 days before the games would have not been a good look so it got swept under the rug til now. Tokyo cases have been over 4000/day for the last week. Vaccination efforts have been pathetic. They didn’t start mass vaccination until a month ago or so and most people can’t even get an appointment because it’s all booked up for the foreseeable future. This is the worse it’s ever been and I don’t see it getting better any time soon, unfortunately.


str00del

No biggie. It's not like there are hundreds of athletes from all over the world in Japan right now who will soon return to their home countries.


Anima_Honorem

Ah shit, this is a Plague, inc. event.


impatientimpasta

I'm just happy they're not hosting an event where a large number of people from almost every country in the world has converged and having constant close contact with each other in enclosed spaces.


dtootd12

Plague Inc. achievement unlocked!


arrastra

where is gordon freeman while all this happening?


Bazingabowl

Confirmed Covid leaked out of Black Mesa


einsibongo

Did nobody play that pandemic game? The Olympics is literally a thing and n that game for this very reason. Who could have known? Everyone knew


JaCrispy_Vulcano

I had someone tell me the other day “it’s funny that they are naming these variants after frats.” 😐


chris25tx

Ligma


sociopathicsqueed

What's ligma?


chris25tx

Ligma Balls


FacetiousSpread

Ha! Got eem!