But two months later, with Omicron dominant across much of the globe, the narrative has shifted for some. And many countries, particularly where vaccination coverage is low, could still face overwhelmed hospitals due to the current Omicron wave. Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of hospitalization compared to Delta, according to a Scottish study. Driving this push is the ravaging impact that Omicron is having on essential workforces -- a development that has changed the calculus of governments. And that adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the question of whether Omicron will hasten the end of the pandemic.

Source: CNN January 23, 2022 08:42 UTC