Nature Medicine just published the results of a year-long study that looked at 44 disorders of brain health using millions of Veterans Administration medical records with no identification numbers. Brain and other neurological disorders were seven percent higher in people who had had covid than in people who had not. The most common neurological disorder was brain fog; people who had had covid had a 77 percent higher risk of developing memory problems. They were 50 percent more likely to have a stroke caused by blood clots, 80 percent more likely to develop seizures, and 43 percent more likely to develop mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. Finally, the covid sufferers were 35 percent more likely to develop headaches and 42 percent more likely to suffer movement disorders such as tremors.
Omicron was the 13th named variant in one one-year period. There have been no new named variants in the last 10 months. Right now, the most significant variations are arising from Omicron. The one we should watch closely is BA.2.75.2, which evades immunity better than any other Omicron variant. It currently accounts for only .05 percent of viruses sequenced worldwide in the last three months. Overall, Omicron has given rise to over 50 new mutations. I admit to wondering if that is a good or bad thing. Will an understanding of related Omicron mutations help us adapt to later ones? And should a non-Omicron (the next Greek letter is Pi) variant arise, will we be at all prepared to handle it?
As of October 11, Japan will lift restrictions on foreign tourists. Visa-free travel from certain countries will resume as will individual travel. Right now, only organized tour groups or groups that hire an in-country guide are allowed. Hong Kong is ending its mandatory hotel quarantine for travelers arriving "from overseas and Taiwan." That specific language makes me wonder if tourists coming from mainland China will still be expected to quarantine. Your guess is probably as good as mine.
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