A highly transmissible COVID-19 variant has arrived in Australia. What you need to know about XEC
www.abc.net.au
Australia has recorded its first cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant that has been spreading in Europe this year. Here's what you need to know about XEC — the highly transmissible strain that has been reported in 29 countries.

In short:

Australia has recorded its first cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant that has been spreading in Europe this year.

The mutation is a “recombinant” variant that is a mix of two previous Omicron subvariants called KS 1.1 and KP 3.3.

What’s next?

An infectious disease expert says the strain has the hallmarks of something that could lead to a “summer wave” of infections.

  • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    9·
    28 days ago

    My impression from predictions was that covid would get weaker over time, but more persistent, and become an extra thing aside influenza.

    • rtxn@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      28 days ago

      Remember when we thought people would realize the dangers of a global pandemic, and through a shared responsibility, we could do to COVID what we’ve done to smallpox and measles, and it would blow over in a few months?

      Fuck you, people. All you had to do was stay in your fucking homes and wear a fucking cloth over your stupid fuckin mouths.

      • dumbass@leminal.spaceEnglish
        61·
        28 days ago

        I got some people to start wearing a mask by explaining to them you can quietly talk shit about people in public with a mask on and no one will notice unless they hear you, which they wont if you’re not being loud.

      • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        3·
        28 days ago

        I couldn’t agree more, but all that could ever do was mitigate the spread. And I think all that no-contact messaging did help, but there’s no way you could prevent people from eventually wandering out to fuck each other.