The Omicron wave represents a key turning point in the pandemic. Early, largely anecdotal, evidence from South Africa suggested Omicron might be milder. As additional data has landed in the past two weeks, the hypothesis of the Omicron wave being significantly milder becomes increasingly plausible. While Omicron can largely bypass neutralising antibodies, it remains well recognised by T-cells, which do the heavy lifting to control infections that can’t be averted. How to respond to the Omicron wave poses extreme challenges to political and public health authorities globally.

Source: The Guardian December 12, 2021 21:40 UTC