Another New Variant of the Not So Novel Coronavirus; Also, the Startling Decline in Birth Rates

Another named variant of the 2019 coronavirus has emerged, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the emerging Omicron variant, society’s initial reaction to the news of its emergence, and how our mindset in terms of dealing with COVID-19 must continue to evolve over time as circumstances change (01:25). The guys also consider the significance of falling birth rates for humans around the world and also how societal factors influence, and will be influenced by, people having less babies (30:21).

New evidence shows omicron likely spreads twice as fast as delta in South Africa (NPR)

Study: Omicron could be more transmissible due to sharing genetic material with common cold (The Hill)

Which COVID-19 variants are most common in the US? (USA Facts)

First data on Covid omicron variant’s severity is ‘encouraging,’ Fauci says (CNBC)

Why birth rates are falling, and why it’s no big deal (Popular Science)

Why a decline in US birth rates could actually help our economy (Popular Science)

Show Notes

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