Omicron variant more resistant to vaccine but causes less severe Covid: study

Re:Omicron variant more resistant to vaccine but causes less... by thedorkknight on Tuesday December 14, 2021 @02:40PM (#29556389)

Don't most covid deaths happen after you're no longer infectious? I thought a lot of that was from the cytokine storm.

But to the other commenter's point, if omicron DID get a more deadly variant that kills you after you've already infected other people due to presymptomatic spread, then why would that variant be likely to die out? It's already reproduced before killing the host

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Re:Omicron variant more resistant to vaccine but causes less... by Barrin92 on Tuesday December 14, 2021 @02:59PM (#29556698)

it's overall less likely to reproduce because we take measures against covid collectively. What spreads more unhindered, covid or the common cold?

A disease that spreads before it's symptomatic may not face negative selection pressure for some individuals, but on the aggregate people wear masks, avoid contact, even entered lockdowns, are more likely to obtain vaccination, and so on.

There's a stronger behavioral response to a more deadly covid than there is to one that is entirely harmless. It's not just death that reduces rates of transmission, and it's not just sick or symptomatic people who avoid contact.

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