Panic Porn: New Strain Not More Deadly

Another day, another panicky headline: On December 23rd, London’s Centre for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases released a model indicating that the newly-identified strain of the novel coronavirus was 56% percent more transmissible than the original. Governor Dear Leader Polis rushed to Twitter to grab the first-place trophy for the first (supposedly) confirmed infection in the states (reportedly a National Guard member):

While Polis was quick to reiterate the three COVID commandments, what escaped the announcement was the finding that the new strain was no more severe than the first. Public Health England released a study before Christmas with this little nugget in the summary:

Preliminary results from the cohort study found no statistically significant difference in hospitalization and 28-day case fatality between cases with the variant (VOC 201212/01) and wild-type comparator cases.

It bears reminding: There is absolutely zero evidence the Colorado government or anyone else can prevent spread or contain the virus at all. Treatments work. Vaccinations will likely help. Physical control of millions of people is a ridiculous solution that is laughably and offensively ineffective at anything other than ruining free economies.

Expect media and government officials to run wild with the panic porn headline and totally ignore the fact that the variant is essentially the same. Likewise, expect Polis to use this new strain’s existence to push for the continuation of his emperor-like powers over Colorado citizens.

Considering that so-called infections are largely inert and cause most people very little trouble, a model (yes, just a model) that predicts easier spread is hardly something to worry about.