Oh my God… it’s Omicron, the coronavirus variant that sounds like something out of a doomsday film.
After all, I’m of an age to remember The Omega Man: a 1970s film set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a plague that had turned most of the human race into vampires, apart from jabot-wearing Charlton Heston
So, let’s hope that this new iteration of Covid doesn’t turn us all into blood-sucking monsters – or affect our fashion taste to the point where we think having a frilly cravat around our necks is cool.
Mind you, Omicron was barely out of the starting blocks before the moon howlers were at it with their depressingly predictable anti-vax conspiracy nonsense.
Omicron, you see, is an anagram of moronic. And what clearer proof do you need that sinister forces are not only at work, they are now seriously ripping the Michael out of the unsuspecting sheeple?
Because that’s exactly what shadowy global cabals bent on world domination do – they give clues to their secret plans in cryptic crossword clues. For goodness’ sake, we’re in a pandemic, not a James Bond movie, you traders. And, yes, there’s an anagram in that last sentence.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best
Back in the real world, there is real concern over Omicron and the impact it could have on the battle to beat back Covid and return us to our normal lives. It is, of course, early days and the boffins are looking closely at whether this new arrival spreads more quickly, and if it can dodge its way around vaccines.
Hopefully, the answer isn’t as drastic as some fear it might be. But that doesn’t mean we can all sit around and wait to find out.
As First Minister Nicola Sturgeon rightly pointed out, we need to plan for the worst, but hope for the best.
We need to be upping our game when it comes to keeping ourselves and others safe. Sure, we have all relaxed a bit as things have felt more normal lately. But, to keep it that way, we have to follow the safeguards in place right now.
It’s not rocket science to work out that being vaccinated has been one of the biggest advances in beating back the pandemic
So, stop wandering around in public places without a mask on, please. And by the way, they are not chin supports or beard warmers.
Get yourself along for any and all the jabs you are due. It’s not rocket science to work out that being vaccinated has been one of the biggest advances in beating back the pandemic.
And, yes it’s a pain in the nostrils, but keep it up with LFTs – it’s in your own interest as well as a courtesy to folk around you.
Omicron is here. We know that. We are all in the frontline of trying to stop it from getting a foothold and the attendant risk of pushing us back to square one in the pandemic.
We’ve got a job to do, so let’s get on with it. At least no one is asking us to wear a cravat.
Scott Begbie is entertainment editor for The Press & Journal and Evening Express