General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Omicron extremely mild no hospitalizations [View all]wnylib
(21,446 posts)Italy, Portugal, Israel, and Canada.
Maybe more countries by now. So far, Portugal is reporting that cases have been mild and even asymptomatic. The lack of symptoms could account for its quick spread. If people don't know that they are infected, they are going about as usual, infecting people they come in contact with. That makes a good case for wearing masks.
We are lucky if it turns out to be mild. But there will still be some people with health conditions that make even a mild case dangerous for them.
I think that I will be seeing the omicron variant in my region very soon. The Canadian cases are in Ontario, which borders on NY state. One location is Ottowa, which is not as near to NYers. But the other location is Hamilton, which is across Lake Erie from northwestern PA and western NY. With the borders open now, people are crossing into and out of NY daily. Many NYers own camping and other properties in Ontario and vice versa. Others have jobs across the border. Niagara Falls brings people from around the world. It won't be long before western NY has omicron cases. Probably the same is true for NYC as an international port.