Three factors will determine the real-world impact of the Omicron variant: the extent to which it can evade the immunity developed by those who have been vaccinated or previously infected by other variants, its inherent infectiousness, and the severity of disease it causes. Click through our scenarios to see how these variables might combine to increase hospitalizations in the United States.
To read the article, see “When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” December 15, 2021.