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.

  • NoGodsNoMasters [they/them, she/her]
    hexbear
    6
    10 months ago

    surgical masks (useless)

    This isn't entirely true though. Yes they are far from perfect and yes they are worse than better masks, but they are still better than nothing and do actually reduce transmission.

    • Kuori [she/her]
      hexbear
      7
      10 months ago

      you're correct, i was being a touch hyperbolic. iirc it's like 23-27% effective or some shit, maybe in the 30s (it's been a while)

      that said, a solid 70% of the doctors i see masking have it either under their nose or on their chin so shrug-outta-hecks