omicron hysteria sweeps the media, look a new case! one in each state OMG

[Pinback]

6. Probably best to listen to epidemiologists.

For example, here's an update from one reliable source -- The Omicron variant's reinfection risk "appears to be three times higher than two earlier variants," according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota:
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/12/global-omicron-covid-cases-rise-evidence-immune-escape-grows
The team at CIDRAP stress that we are in the early stages of assessing this variant, so the risk profile is evolving.

There is much to learn about this latest wrinkle in the COVID saga. Until we have reason to regard it as no worse than previous variants, it just makes good common sense to be cautious about Omicron.

Meanwhile, we have enough trouble from the previous iterations of the virus:
"Delta surge remains strong as world sizes up Omicron threat" -- https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/12/delta-surge-remains-strong-world-sizes-omicron-threat

There is a lot in flux globally, and with winter coming on in the northern hemisphere, and lots of unvaccinated people around the world, there's plenty of opportunity for new variants to emerge as we continue to deal with repeated Delta surges.