Thread by @KrutikaKuppalli

This narrative is exactly what I was worried about👇

We still don’t know #Omicron causes less severe disease but has become so politicized leaders say it only causes a “sore throat” without thinking of the immediate & long term (post #COVID19 condition #LongCovid) effects

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1476991857699659777

#COVID19 and #Omicron most certainly does not only cause a “sore throat” we are seeing ⬆️⬆️ numbers of ICU admits and hospitalizations.
Yes some may have mild disease (thank you #vaccines) but these people can still transmit and put others (ie immunecompromised) at high risk.

The strain this is putting on healthcare systems and workers is tremendous.

Procedures that are non-emergent like cardiac catheterizations, biopsies, & other important surgeries are being postponed. This may lead to delays in diagnosis of things like cancer & adverse outcomes.

Let’s also talk about post-#COVID19 condition (#LongCovid) which is estimated to affect about 20% of those who get infection regardless of severity (so that #sorethroat matters). Long term this will ⬆️ DALY’s and affect healthcare systems and economies which lose workers.

Finally, the longer we have uncontrolled spread of #COVID19 the ⬆️ risk we are for the next variant which will be fitter. We need to get transmission under control to prevent further mutations from occurring.

It’s sad after two years this PHEIC is still not seen for what it is.