A Covid-19 'viral blizzard' is about to hit the US, expert says, with 'millions' to be infected soon

[crimycarny]

41. could be--but that's speculation

Just as it's a bit of speculation at this point (early on) to assume Omicron is less lethal, it's also speculation to say it's not.

Meanwhile, an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, found the variant seems to not just spread more easily from person to person, but is better at evading vaccines while causing less serious illness.

The data also shows, however, that while case numbers are rising, hospitalizations are not increasing at the same rate, leading the scientists to believe that the risk of hospitalization from omicron may be lower than delta or earlier variants. Hospital admissions for adults diagnosed with COVID-19 are 29% lower compared to the wave that South Africa experienced in mid-2020, after adjusting for vaccination status, according to the analysis.

So even after adjusting for vaccination status the hospital admissions are 29% lower.

Initial findings in the midwest seem to indicate Omicron might be less lethal as well.

Only time will tell but I'm certainly going to look for the positive, it's about time.