“Many here will call you a liar.”
...or worse.
We can just talk to each other through the noise.
Earlier in the month, I predicted that Omicron would be in full bloom in the USA around Christmas. I would say that it now is, with several States/Territories hitting all time highs for new cases.
I am guessing a National peak around the second week in January, plus or minus a week or two. It should be a doozy of a peak - possibly maxing out test capacity, with the rest going uncounted. If case numbers suddenly level off (possibly due to reaching testing capacity limits), watch test positivity rates for a few days or weeks to gauge when the wave actually breaks.
Historically, CDC estimates that about one out of four actual COVID infections gets officially reported/counted. For Omicron, we could see a lot more asymptomatic infections, and a higher ratio of unreported cases - especially if testing capacity is exceeded.
Hospitals are wise to brace for a surge, although it seems likely that hospitalizations (or deaths) will not track case numbers like they have in past waves. Omicron is milder, immunity is more widespread, or some combination - whatever the cause, lower per case hospitalization rates have characterized earlier Omicron waves elsewhere, like Europe and South Africa. Hospitalizations seem on track to increase, but not go wild.
We have entered the boom phase of our Omicron wave. There is no need to freak out, but doubtless some will over the coming weeks.
“… Earlier in the month, I predicted that Omicron would be in full bloom in the USA around Christmas. I would say that it now is, with several States/Territories hitting all time highs for new cases.…”
********************************************************************
I’ve tried (and failed miserably) since last summer to add natural immunity to my less broad Moderna immunity. Since I live in Maryland and we’re in the midst of an Omicron wave, perhaps I’ll have more success now. We went to the packed Christmas Eve service last night at our bible believing church (masks were few and far between) and there was much singing of Christmas carols. Surely there must have been a few Omicron viruses unleashed into the air so I’m hoping some of them may have found me. Maybe COVID-19 viruses hate me and avoid me. It’s frustrating. 🤷♂️😸
The hospitals have a ton of defective tests they need to use up before the end of the year. They test everybody using the faulty and soon to be discarded tests, and the fearmongers shout from the rooftops, “We’re all going to die from Omicron if everybody doesn’t get the vaccine!”
I’m not buying.