Omicron Might End Worst of Pandemic!

[Stonetree]

And the relatively low death rate from it in Israel also seems to bear this out.

I don't want to throw a wet blanket on optimism. However, it takes a shorter time of exposure to catch this variant and it replicates much faster than the Delta strain according to a report from a medical representative. Some vaccine may not be successful against this strain.

 

[metis]

I don't want to throw a wet blanket on optimism. However, it takes a shorter time of exposure to catch this variant and it replicates much faster than the Delta strain according to a report from a medical representative. Some vaccine may not be successful against this strain.

Yes, that appears to be true as it is seemingly 2-3 times more contagious than Delta. But one possible silver thread is that since it is seemingly less deadly, it could hypothetically lead more quickly to having herd immunity. However, it also mutates so quickly as we've seen that any herd immunity could be short lived.

 

[Suave]

I don't want to throw a wet blanket on optimism. However, it takes a shorter time of exposure to catch this variant and it replicates much faster than the Delta strain according to a report from a medical representative. Some vaccine may not be successful against this strain.

No doubt, Omicron is way more infectious than Delta, but far less deadly. I figure if three times as many people are likely to catch C,O.V.I.D.-19 at a nine times lower rate of death, then three times fewer people will soon be dying by C.O.V.I.D.-19. To me, this would be cause for us to celebrate.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Omicron is evidently very contagious and somewhat vaccine resistant, however Omicron very likely causes very mild illnesses. Perhaps Omicron might out compete and overtake Delta, meaning while there may be many of runny noses and mildly sore bodies, almost nobody soon will likely die by C.O.V.I.D.-19.

Omicron will mutate. There's no telling whether the next variant of concern will have the contagiousness of Omicron but worse severity.

 

[Suave]

Omicron will mutate. There's no telling whether the next variant of concern will have the contagiousness of Omicron but worse severity.

What if Omicron could quickly be spread, out competing other strains, would this prevent other variants of concern from being generated?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What if Omicron could quickly be spread, out competing other strains, would this prevent other variants of concern from being generated?

No, of course not.

If anything, Omicron increases the odds that worse variants will arise. Every new infection is an opportunity for a mutation, and it seems like Omicron will generate infections at a higher rate than other strains. Some mutations will be more contagious, some mutations will be more virulent.

There's no law of nature that says the more contagious the strain, the less deadly it is.