Topic: Xbb Variant

UMass Memorial and several school districts in Kentucky are reinstating mask mandates and canceling in-person classes due to a reported surge in COVID-19 cases. A new health advisory regarding the XBB variant claims it is more "lethal" and difficult to detect with standard nasal swabs. Critics argue this is a coordinated "script" designed to reintroduce mandates and promote the upcoming fall booster shots.

The FDA is preparing for a new round of COVID-19 vaccines this fall, designed to target the XBB 1.5 variant. Medical experts describe the selection process as a "guesstimate" similar to the annual flu shot. The mRNA technology is touted for its ability to be reformulated within 100 days to match circulating strains.

The XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant, nicknamed "Kraken" by an evolutionary biologist on Twitter, is spreading rapidly across the U.S. and New York. Health officials state the variant is highly contagious and capable of evading immunity from prior infections and monoclonal antibody treatments. In the UK, MP Andrew Bridgen was stripped of the Conservative Party whip after raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

Late-night host Jimmy Fallon performed a musical segment about the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant. The song is characterized as an attempt to normalize the ongoing cycle of new virus strains. There is a brief mention of the "Kraken" nickname for the variant, which has seen limited adoption in the United States compared to Australia.