Why There is New Hope About the End of the Pandemic

Despite the spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, there is now more hope among scientists that the end of the pandemic is closer than we think.

A new report by the L-A Times says the Omicron strain, while seeming so far to be more contagious, at the same time, is proving so far to be milder and less serious than the Delta strain if you get it.

As one immunologist put it, “If an infection with Omicron is unlikely to make a patient severely ill but leaves some immunity in its wake, it could act as a natural vaccine.”

The report says microbiologists and epidemiologists say this is how the pandemic could end, with the COVID virus evolving into what they call an endemic “nuisance virus,” joining four other coronaviruses that all have settled in among humans and are the key causes of the common cold.

This news is what should give doctors and health care workers and all of us more hope that the end of the pandemic may be in sight.

That doesn’t mean all is well yet, because a lot of unvaccinated people are still mostly the ones being hospitalized and dying from the COVID complications. And it doesn’t mean that we all still shouldn’t be careful and wear masks when we’re worried about being in crowded places during the holidays.

But when smart scientists have more hope, then we should all be able to as well. Especially, now, as we celebrate the real hope of Christmas.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS NEW REPORT.

(Photo Getty Images)