the virus has a say in it, I don't think anyone knows with a confidence level greater than 0.5...my hope and expectation is that we do achieve "Endemic Status" in 2022, whereby a combination of vaccinations and natural immunity+vaccination reduces case and hospitalization rates to "Seasonal Flu" levels...it will take awhile for most of the population to adjust, but I'm hoping by Summertime, we'll all be sitting shoulder to shoulder at ball games and enjoying a Guinness without masks in our favorite watering holes.
All of that is contingent on a) no new 'variant of interest', b) higher levels of vaccination, c) broad availability of PAXLOVID and rapid testing kits...and of course, d) months of very low COVID ICU use.
Probably a little optimistic...could stretch to the fall of 2022, but the real proof will be a year from now, with (d) continuing to hold firm.
I'm still concerned about the impact of having the majority of earth's population no where near as well off as we expect to be...for a much longer time. From what I heard in the UCSF Grand Rounds video, Omicron dame to be because (...admitted 'theory') a lone HIV sufferer was able to harbor the COVID virus for a long time and allowing multiple mutations...that kind of thing will still be going on "Out There"...
What's your take?