Despite the rapidly increasing corona infections, more and more experts are giving reason for hope. Accordingly, the contagious omicron variant could soon ease the situation significantly.
Munich – The Corona* virus has been dominating world events for around two years, and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has not detracted from this. But despite the skyrocketing numbers across Europe, more and more experts are now giving reason for hope. The highly contagious virus variant in particular should pave the way to the end of the pandemic.
Omikron: Experts with a surprising corona forecast
Virologist Klaus Stöhr, among others, is of this conviction. “We have already seen in the past waves that the speed is increasing. There is an ever steeper climb with a higher peak. And I predict: also a faster decline,” he analyzes to the picture . Such a course of omicron infections can also be observed in South Africa and Great Britain.
The Germany-wide record incidences are actually not reflected as much in the intensive care units as was the case with the Delta variant. According to a study by the US health authority CDC, the probability of ending up in an intensive care unit falls by 74 percent at Omikron. The risk of dying after infection with the variant is even 91 percent lower compared to Delta.
Corona variant: Omikron as an opportunity – “We are approaching the end of the pandemic”
In the interview, Stöhr also emphasizes the chance of greater immunity in the population thanks to the omicron variant. Due to the rapid spread, more and more people would be “naturally immunized”, at the same time the pressure on the clinics would not increase proportionately. Stöhr is therefore certain: “We are approaching the end of the pandemic.”
Although statistician Christian Hesse attributes the enormous spread of Omikron to the fact that around 25 percent of Germans are not vaccinated, he also sees potential in the current situation. “With a rapid increase, the part of the population susceptible to the virus also decreases comparably quickly,” he says to the picture . It was the same in South Africa.
Omikron: The corona situation should ease up soon
However, one should not underestimate Omikron for this reason. As the doctor Christian Specht told n-tv , people would still die from the variant in the future. “Only not at all in the magnitudes that we have seen so far,” Specht continues. In the future, most would come into contact with the Corona* mutation, which is why you have to stop “always only considering this incidence.”
Specht also thinks that the corona virus itself will be present in the coming winters. But a phase is now beginning in which Omikron can be used to start being able to “live well” with the virus. He too is therefore of the opinion that the numbers would flatten out by spring. It is even conceivable that the omicron infections would “fall significantly in the next two to three weeks”. (mef) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
Header list image: © Oliver Berg
