I assume you booked NZ as Plan A. My Plan B would be the MU flight. No matter how much we complain about Shanghai, it's not that scary. Plus, you won't even need to leave the airport.

I saw this post when I got up this morning and my initial reaction was that you got unlucky. However, as the morning rolled on, I received word from everyone I know in Xuhui that they had also been selected...and everyone they know in Xuhui also got the notice. At that point, it was clear that people weren't being selected because there were positive cases in their compounds; rather, this was a catch-all deal. I still hadn't been summoned myself yet but knew it was coming...and, I wanted to enjoy the amazing weather before hunkering down. So, I decided to walk up to Jing'an again --this time up Wulumuqi Rd-- and try out the lobster roll place (Shanxi Bei Lu / Kangding Lu...basically between the Shed and Bubba's).

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...968117a304.jpg
As I left my place, I noticed lots of testing sites with the requisite snowmen along Yongjia Rd.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bfcfd3c216.jpg
And also many policemen. I realize this picture doesn't convey such; I'm a little shy wrt cop photos.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...86ab55912f.jpg
But in-person dining is definitely still happening at most restaurants here. As I mentioned yesterday, Jing'an has cracked down hard on this.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dba391a623.jpg
This is a picture of Nanjing Rd. facing east towards Jing'an Temple, which you can see on the left side of the street if you look hard enough (it is gold). I was amazed that there weren't any cars at all. (It is one of the busiest streets in Shanghai.)
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3e3a453e04.jpg
After about 45 minutes of walking, I reached my goal, Will's Lobster. This is the menu.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1e89233944.jpg
And this is the product. I had low expectations because I grew up eating the real deal. However, I must say that it was pretty damn good. A little smaller than what I regard as standard, but Y93 would be a good price even in Boston.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...31be875b13.jpg
At some point during my walk the lockdown notice showed up in my WeChat. It instructed me to go to the elementary school next to my compound. The process wasn't so bad.

Now I'm back home. The deal is I can get my second test (also a throat swab, I think) at 10a tomorrow morning. And, once the result comes back, I'll be in the clear. The testing people told me to stay home, and I will. However, in my case, nothing would prevent me from fleeing (i.e. the gates are not locked). I would simply feel stupid if I flaunted this rule and got busted. I'm guessing I would stick out like a sore thumb if I wandered about because it appears that they've tested pretty everyone they could in this district. I mentioned all of the snowmen and police in Xuhui. I didn't see any in Jing'an. So, my theory is that they're moving around from district to district. I don't completely see the point of this exercise, but there are lots of things I don't understand about China. All in all, I don't feel particularly inconvenienced though. I'll just pretend tomorrow is a rainy day (even though it won't be).

Quite an eventful day, Moondog.

Our compound is completely locked. We can go outside, use the tennis court, gym, etc. but just can't leave. But when I left to get testing, no one was following me so I walked around a bit and got a coffee.

The concern now is the backlog of tests and how that impacts our release timing.

So I am realizing there are different levels of lockdown. I guess to some extent it is the honor system whether someone "just goes to get tested" when they leave their house. And even in locked down places some eateries are open?

Not sure if you have looked into the UA 858 PVG-ICN-SFO. I flew on Feb 28 when UA 857 was not carrying passengers (just cargo). The oubound flight from China to the US can still carry passengers.

May be the diversion won't impact the inbound cargo flight.

ARCoV will just need a third shot for Omicron, same as Pfizer and Moderna. There's no data indicating that it'll be significantly worse than the other two mRNA vaccines (which still aren't great) against Omicron after a booster.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...67e7605f14.jpg


https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-022-00626-w

I have no interest in playing armchair virologist but the article you linked says they only tested this in mice not humans. Manufacturing and distribution is still a problem.

You're the one who started this "armchair virologist" discussion. The Lancet article you linked in your original post had nothing to justify your statement that "Basically, it's highly likely that ARCoV doesn't work for Omicron (if it works at all)". You have not linked to any other study, human or mouse, that proves "ARCoV doesn't work for Omicron."

Now you're claiming you "have no interest in playing armchair virologist" when confronted with contrary evidence.

Yes, if there's no large-scale test data on humans we have no definitive answer if it works.

I didn't know about the article you posted. The original link I posted was data from late 2020 (released this month) when no one even knew Omicron existed so it's unclear if that formulation works for Omicron. The phase 3 data from ARCoV still hasn't been published to my knowledge, and your article says at the end ARCoV-Omicron is approaching clinical trials, so there also isn't any data there either.

Note also in the phase 1 ARCoV trial they didn't even try it on anyone over the age of 60, which should be the target population.
Developing a mRNA vaccine is nontrivial especially in China because they can't license the IP from other companies and have to do everything from scratch. It's not similar to an inactivated vaccine like Sinovac where the technology is well known.

Having "no definitive answer if it works" is a very different assertion from: "Basically, it's highly likely that ARCoV doesn't work for Omicron (if it works at all)"

In science nobody says there is 'no data' to prove it is worse. You do not presume non-inferiority. You have to prove it.
And why quote a mice study, as nobody cares about those. Alzheimer's has been cured in mice. Care to tell me which drug is available for humans?

People, please, lets keep this thread clear from COVID related details. 🙏

That was a response to: "Basically, it's highly likely that ARCoV doesn't work for Omicron (if it works at all)."

I was pointing out that he presented no support for that assertion. In fact, the Lancet study and the more recent Cell study suggest the opposite, that ARCoV is likely to be broadly comparable. Given how recent Omicron is, it makes sense that mice results are the first available, and they look promising.

When there is no data it is best to use logic, or comparable things. I don't know that mRNA technology is that easy. Presumably many companies have tried but only 2 have succeeded.

India has developed a mRNA vaccine (Gennova), and it would be interesting to see how that compares. They are running trials.

One question I have for the trials for ARCoV is how will they get enough patients? I'd presume most in China are already vaccinated. It is easy enough to find unvaccinated patients in the West, but they obviously won't volunteer.

For now, the change to PVG flights only affects Chinese carriers.

UA/AA/DL stay at PVG.