From a political standpoint, it seems increasingly likely that the main consequence of omicron will be to accelerate the end of the coronavirus crisis/state of emergency
Yes, the short-term effect is a wave of cases, which may or may not increase in hospitalization/deaths (depending on how the lower severity x higher transmissibility equation sorts out).
But even assuming there is a wave of hospitalizations/death, this will be a changed pandemic.
But even assuming there is a wave of hospitalizations/death, this will be a changed pandemic.
There won't be a fantasy of crushing a highly transmissible variant with the ability to evade vaccines. And at the same time, the risks may seem more acceptable, due to diminished severity, growing immunity and improved treatment options
A lot of people have talked about a 'return to normalcy' over the last few years.
It's hard to think of what would do more to nudge COVID toward normalcy than a widespread sense that exposure/infection is at once inevitable, and not as scary as it once was
It's hard to think of what would do more to nudge COVID toward normalcy than a widespread sense that exposure/infection is at once inevitable, and not as scary as it once was
Whether this adds up to a slight or a big shift in pandemic politics is a totally separate question. That will come down to exact severity, ofc.
But it's clear which direction this will nudge the issue, even if it's not clear whether it's *the* turning point or something
But it's clear which direction this will nudge the issue, even if it's not clear whether it's *the* turning point or something
Folks, fewer severe cases per case/positive test (which shapes individual perception of risk) has very significant political consequences, regardless of what it means for the population as a whole
https://twitter.com/lexiconway/status/1471852733724512264?s=20
A connection worth being clear about: the thing making it hard to deal with omicron (the growing gap btwn individual v. collective threat, as described by yong) is the same reason why omicron nudges politics in anti-emergency direction, esp after this wave
https://twitter.com/chollyTED/status/1471914038493863946?s=20
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