Could the Omicron variant really end the pandemic? Virologist urges caution

Ferenc Jakab told Forbes that the Omicron variant will achieve a population-wide immunisation, but warned "we should not think this is the end of the story."

The virologist believes that it is possible that "this phase of the pandemic will end with the fifth wave," but that there is no lifelong immunity from infection, and that for those who are not vaccinated, the protection is likely to wear off in 3-4 months, based on the information available so far. He added that this could lead to "a slow loss of immunity for everyone by autumn," which could lead to a resurgence of the epidemic.

In the longer term, however, he believes there is a chance that the coronavirus will be "tamed" into a mild to moderate upper respiratory infection.

He noted that, of course, the emergence of new variants could prove this prognosis wrong, especially if a new variant also attacks the lungs, so "statements that the pandemic is over with Omicron should be treated with caution."

Meanwhile, Gábor Vattay, head of the Complex Physics Department at ELTE, warned that more people will be hospitalised in Hungary due to Omicron than ever before.

He told RTL Klub the only thing we currently know in Hungary about the fifth wave is that the number of new cases is on the rise.

The main question, he added, is whether the number of Covid deaths will increase, but data from New York are not very favourable in this respect, as the Omicron variant has broken all hospital records, including the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital.

Vattay also said that in a week or two we will know exactly how much more deaths will be caused by the Omicron variant. At the same time, he warned that many health workers are likely to be forced out of the system because of the spread of Omicron.

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