The Rise of the ‘Eris’ Variant
A new COVID-19 strain known as the EG.5 coronavirus variant is gaining attention. Reports indicate this variant is resulting in a noticeable uptick in both cases and fatalities, notably in nations such as the United Kingdom and the United States. For context, EG.5 is a descendant of the Omicron strain, which has long held its position as the dominant COVID variant globally.
Controversial Predictions: Major Lockdowns Ahead?
Infowars.com, spearheaded by Alex Jones, speculates a potential resurgence of stringent COVID-related restrictions by mid-September, thanks to the EG.5 variant. As per the website, anonymous tip-offs suggest a recent meeting where TSA managers were briefed on forthcoming policy memos. These policies, anticipated to be in play by mid-September, would mandate masks for TSA staff and other airport workers.
Continuing on this trajectory, Infowars anticipates that come mid-October, a broader spectrum of the aviation industry – including pilots, flight crews, and even travelers – will be compelled to mask up. These insiders purportedly hinted not at the possibility, but the certainty of a spike in COVID figures, prompting the Biden Administration to reintroduce significant COVID protocols.
Global COVID-19 Statistics: A Snapshot
The Washington Post highlighted that within the month leading up to August 3, over 1 million COVID-19 cases and upwards of 3,100 fatalities have been logged, as per World Health Organization data. Since the pandemic’s onset in 2020, the death toll has surpassed a staggering 7 million, according to WHO metrics.
Official Stance: No Immediate Threat Foreseen
Contrary to Infowars’ projections, there hasn’t been any official acknowledgment of an impending significant rise in COVID-19 cases or deaths. Kathleen Conley, a representative from the CDC, clarified in her communication with the Washington Post that as of now, there’s no concrete evidence suggesting that the EG.5 variant is more transmissible. Moreover, current treatments and vaccines are believed to remain effective against this new strain.
The WHO has further alleviated concerns by categorizing the EG.5 variant as a lesser public health threat relative to other Omicron offspring. Furthermore, as of May 5, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer categorized as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Symptoms related to the EG.5 variant reportedly mirror those of preceding Omicron strains, without any increase in severity.
Vaccination Update: New Shots on the Horizon Techarp.com reports that pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are gearing up to unveil new COVID-19 vaccines by the close of September.
