alasta:

 

I don't personally share the pessimism. Omicron is an upper respiratory infection, much like the other four coronaviruses that are already endemic.

 

The next few months will be difficult, but for the remainder of our lifetimes it will circulate at low levels every winter and cause minimal disruption. Coronaviruses don't mutate at the same rate as influenza, so mutations will slow down as the global community achieves more immunity. 

 

I think this should be done with soonish for sure, the issue is our lifestyles, growing population, density on and other factors, mean other pandemics could present themselves at any time.