Ice pick is a good description. Or stalagmite. Whatever descriptor it clearly has spread like wildfire. I’d guess it relates to increased travel and gathering over the holidays.
I also think there is a perversity to our public policy especially in the big blue cities. Of course red cities will get slammed the same either way, but this idea that you need to show proof of vaccination to enter public/social life for a disease that isn’t stopped by the vaccine simply means that the vaccinated are spreading the virus among other vaccinated in bars, restaurants, clubs etc. The unjabbed can’t eat in restaurants or go to the gym so they are probably less likely to get infected as a result. Or put another way, the vaccines give people - and public policy makers - a false sense of security.
In any case, I hope you’re right and the numbers will drop rapidly in the coming weeks. I don’t think South Africa is the best comparison for a lot of reasons. We should look at what is happening in Europe as it appears they got Omicron a tad bit earlier than we did.
Optimism is far more dangerous than pessimism. It leads to cavalier behavior and consequent death.
So stop with the rosey scenarios. Victory over the Virus is the only path to Dem midterm survival, so no idea why people are doing this.