PEORIA, Ill. — There’s still much to learn about the Omicron variant.
Dr. Doug Kasper, with the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”, it’s been the hope that a dominant strain of the coronavirus would come along that produces milder effects.
“We know we cannot eradicate the virus. But, if the virus causes mild effects that do not produce hospitalization, or death, or long COVID symptoms, and then it spreads through the population, then immunity is achieved naturally,” Kasper said.
Kasper adds, “We can’t be sure that’s what’s happening now, but it would be a great Christmas gift if it is.”
There’s always been potential for a strain with milder effects to appear, because that is what’s been seen in prior pandemics.
“So, everyone is unsure about the severity portion of what this is going to mean for the long-term,” Kasper said.
Kasper agrees with the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, that it will likely be two weeks before we know how the Omicron variant will effect Americans.
