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The fact that multiple countries that had removed most restrictions seem to desperately be putting them back in place makes me think they’ve seen data that is making them very worried. This seems to fit the bill.

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As on other HN threads, transmissibility (Omicron is almost certainly more transmissible) has an exponential effect on healthcare demand and severity is linear (1). Plus if you're wrong about it being less deadly, no do-overs. Though, arguably, it's already way too late to do anything but look like you're doing something.

(1) Pseudo-linear? It's more like shifting the peak of a bell curve.

Enough to close everything in the dead of winter and during celebration season

I hope that’s the only case but Canada is saying “this will be the worst wave so far”. They are closing schools and most restaurants and bars and gyms.

Far faster and more restrictive than ever before.

The UK, Netherlands, Germany are all imposing new restrictions when a few months ago they had removed most.

For whatever reason they think Omicron could be a huge problem.

I guess we'll see. On the west coast, it's my last gym night.

Or they just like being totalitarian

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