The Omicron variant is the latest COVID-19 mutation strained of the virus. As those around the world walk on eggshells, whether to worry about this variant, Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to discuss the matter.
South Africa recently saw a spike in coronavirus cases, which they blamed on the Omicron variant resulting in the United States placing a travel restriction on eight African countries.
Nearly two years since the world has begun living with COVID-19, which has taken the lives of millions worldwide and over 750,000 in the U.S. With mutations like the Delta and Omicron variant, Fauci stated that COVID-19 is endemic and will never disappear.
“We certainly are not going to eradicate it. We’ve only eradicated one virus, and that’s smallpox. Elimination means there’s none of it in the country like we have now with polio and with measles,” Fauci said.
“I don’t think we’re going to be there with this. But what I do think we will be able to do is get a level of control that’s low enough that it doesn’t interfere with our function; it doesn’t have a major impact on society and what we do. It’s not going to go away.”
Furthermore, Fauci went on to say that this new variant should ring the alarms to those who have yet to receive the vaccine.
“So this is a clarion call as far as I’m concerned of saying let’s put aside all of these differences that we have and say, ‘If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you’re fully vaccinated, get boosted, and get the children vaccinated also.’ We now have time.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
