The Omicron variant does not come from Delta, but from a completely different part of the virus family tree.< /p>
Scientists suggest that the coronavirus pandemic will not end with the Omicron variant. And future strains of coronavirus may be even more contagious.
Moreover, the next strain of COVID-19 may be more deadly than Delta or Omicron. British scientists came to this conclusion.
In particular, epidemiologist Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh noted that the widespread assumption that coronavirus variants will continue to weaken is dangerous.
The Omicron variant does not come from Delta, but from a very different part of the virus' family tree. Since we don’t know where the new variant will come from, we also can’t know the level of pathogenicity,” said the professor-epidemiologist.
After Omicron, there will be more options
This alarming thesis was supported by other virologists. So, David Nabarro, World Health Organization (WHO) Special Representative for COVID-19, also agrees with the unpredictability and randomness factor in the issue of mutation and the spread of infection.
«After Omicron, there will be more options, and if they are more contagious, they will dominate. They may also turn out to be more deadly or have a more serious negative effect on the body», the scientist believes.
What the WHO says
The WHO believes that the coronavirus pandemic is not over yet, and there is no end in sight yet and completion. The organization also claims that more and more new variants of the coronavirus will appear.
However, in his New Year's address, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 2022 could be the last year of the coronavirus pandemic. But only if the countries of the world succeed in ending injustice and inequality in the distribution of vaccines.
What is known about the infectiousness of Omicron
Studies have shown that the Omicron strain is more infectious than Delta. The new strain of coronavirus is spreading rapidly. Record rates are being recorded in many countries every day.
At the same time, it leads to a less severe infection among vaccinated people.