Omicron, Omega, and de facto Covid-Zero

Last update: 11/30/21

We are now at a most unwelcome inflection point. If Omicron is "merely" far more transmissible, but not more deadly than Delta, we just have to continue our vaccination efforts and apply well known mitigation procedures for a while longer. But if Omicron evades our vaccines, we should rename it "Omega", the last letter in the Greek alphabet, as acknowledgement that we are at the end of one pandemic, and at the beginning of a new one that will require new vaccines for everyone plus a return to extensive reliance on quarantines and lockdowns until the new vaccines are developed and widely distributed.

Tis the season for jolly folly

Last update: Saturday 11/27/21

Dr. Fauci has often complained about being misquoted. Well, the sad fact is that Dr. Fauci and too many other prominent public health officials are eminently "misquotable". The sudden emergence of the Omicron variant will greatly exacerbate this problem as our public health experts are pressed once again to address questions for which science has not yet determined reliable answers, thereby providing countless opportunities for new misunderstandings.

Living with Delta on campus from August 2021 to November 2021

Last update: Tuesday 12/28/21

During the first half of 2021, the U.S. focused on vaccinating its residents; but its focus shifted to living with the virus in the months that followed. Other countries have also refocused. Unfortunately, efforts to refocus have been impeded by large unvaccinated segments of the populations and by the emergence of substantial breakthrough infections. Although breakthroughs have been overwhelmingly mild or asymptomatic, they contribute to the continuing presence of the virus by thwarting the achievement of herd immunity.

Vaccinating our young children will not accelerate our return to normal living

Last update: Sunday 11/7/21

Throughout the pandemic our de facto goal has been the suppression of the spread of the virus so that our health care facilities would not be overwhelmed. In 2020, we employed various mitigation techniques, mainly face masks and various forms of distancing, e.g., social distancing (6 feet), isolation, quarantine, and lockdowns. 

From one pandemic to two overlapping endemics

 Last update: Wednesday 3/10/22

It now appears that our pandemic might end in two overlapping endemics: The first will be an endemic among the unvaccinated members of our society. Its worst consequences will be surges in hospitalizations and deaths, but not as large as the surges that occurred during the pandemic. This endemic will be the stuff of headlines in all media.