The ways we think about the Covid pandemic have evolved with the virus: In 2020, it was a potentially deadly threat we could avoid by being careful; in 2021, it was something that was likely to infect everyone eventually; and now, it\u2019s becoming seen as a persistent health hazard that can re-infect people multiple times, each time inflicting cumulative damage and increasing the odds of long-duration symptoms.<\/p>\n
Now that most people have been infected, there\u2019s really no other way a new variant can take over except by breaking through immunity from past infections and vaccinations. That\u2019s one reason the Washington Post called BA.5, the currently circulating sub-variant of the highly transmissible omicron, \u201cthe worst variant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Your definition of \u201cthe worst\u201d may vary. It\u2019s certainly the most infectious so far \u2014 but the widespread availability of vaccines will make it far less deadly than earlier versions. The concern about cumulative harm, especially to the heart and brain, is reason to avoid getting reinfected, but there are understandable limits to how far people can or will go to evade BA.5. The young and healthy may brush off repeat infections like common colds, while older, sicker or more-vulnerable people who\u2019ve already battled with the virus have yet another thing to worry about.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Be careful again. Not paranoid! Careful!-How Worried Should You Be About Omicron BA.5? The latest variant will lead to a lot of reinfections, and more cases of long Covid, but won\u2019t be as deadly as earlier waves. By @fayeflam<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/GHCfinJuzo<\/a> via @opinion<\/a><\/p>\n — alain servais (@aservais1) July 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n