omicron variant

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Episode Description:

This episode is a follow-up to our recent COVID-19 podcast with Drs. Marty Makary and Zubin Damania (aka ZDoggMD). Here, we address many of the listener questions we received about our original discussion. In addition to Marty and ZDoggMD, we are also joined by Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. In this episode, we talk about new data on Omicron, long COVID, masks, kids and schools, vaccine mandates, policy questions, and treatments. We also discuss some of the most prevalent misinformation and spend time talking about claims made by Robert Malone. We end with a conversation about our exit strategy. 

Please note: we recorded this episode on January 17, 2022, and in an effort to get it out as soon as possible, this won’t have full show notes or a video. Additionally, Monica was only able to join us for the first section of the podcast, so you’ll hear her drop off partway through.

We discuss:

• Severity of infection from Omicron—reviewing the data [5:15];
• Factors contributing to the relative mildness of Omicron infections [8:30];
• Is SARS-CoV-2 evolving to cause less severe disease? [13:00];
• Potential of Covaxin—an inactivated virus-based COVID-19 vaccine [17:45];
• How B cells and T cells work together to defend against viruses [22:00];
• Comparing COVID-19 vaccines, and the rationale for the time between doses [25:30];
• Reviewing the purpose and effectiveness of boosters for reducing severity and transmission [32:30];
• Debating vaccine mandates, and putting COVID’s mortality risk in perspective [41:00];
• Why the topic of COVID has become so polarized [1:03:15]  
• Reviewing the data on masks for protecting oneself and protecting others [1:06:30];
• The inconsistent logic used for mask mandates [1:16:00]; 
• Long COVID and the potential for vaccines to reduce risk [1:21:45];
• Risks for children and policies for schools [1:27:30];
• Reviewing the outcomes from Sweden, where the government didn't impose lockdowns [1:31:00];
• Draconian measures implemented in Canada [1:38:15]; 
• Antiviral treatments for COVID and a common-sense approach [1:42:15];
• Importance of ending tribalism and having rational discussions with humility [1:47:30];
• Treating infection with monoclonal antibodies and convalescent sera [2:01:45];
• Reviewing claims made by the controversial Dr. Robert Malone [2:11:15];
• A potential exit strategy from the current situation [2:30:30];
• Changes needed at the NIH [2:40:00];
• More.

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By the end of last year, if you needed a coronavirus test, you could get one. But when vaccines arrived, focus shifted.

Many of the vaccinated felt like they didn’t need tests and demand took a nosedive. Testing sites were closed or converted into vaccination sites. And Abbott Laboratories, a major test manufacturer, wound up destroying millions.

However, with the surge of the new Omicron variant, which is less susceptible to vaccines, demand for testing is back — and it is outstripping supply.

Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent, covering health policy for The New York Times.

Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. 

Background reading: 

• President Biden came into office vowing to make coronavirus testing cheap and accessible, but matching supply with demand has been a persistent problem.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

We must stand together and support businesses and the economy. In this episode, Rob talks about the impact the new restrictions and changes are having, especially for smaller businesses and wants to know what can be done to help.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Travel giants like TUI and Best Western are struggling, so how do we think smaller businesses are coping?
• Rob supported the furlough scheme and other smaller schemes in previous restrictions. But what are the government doing now to help? Are there things we can do as individuals to help?
• If something happens in the world that is unforeseen and businesses can’t operate, the government needs to step in and help. It's our job as individuals to push for this and help provide ideas and solutions.
• Too many people don’t see the true benefits of the economy: it matters. Small businesses make up for a very large proportion of the economy, as much as 90% in some cases.

BEST MOMENTS 

 “Business drives the economy, anything that you need to survive a business, an entrepreneur has created”

“It stops when we stand up”

“What are we going to do to support small businesses?”

[Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://robmoore.com/

bit.ly/Robsupporter  

https://robmoore.com/podbooks

 rob.team

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”

“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”

CONTACT METHOD

Rob’s official website: https://robmoore.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robmooreprogressive/?ref=br_rs

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979

disruptive, disruptors, entreprenuer, business, social media, marketing, money, growth, scale, scale up, risk, property: http://www.robmoore.com