Omicron was not derived from Delta. It originated in a different branch of the virus’s family tree.

And, as we have no idea where a new variant will originate in the virus’s family tree, we have no idea how deadly it will be.

It may be less dangerous, but it also has the potential to be more virulent.

Prof Lawrence Young of Warwick University, a virologist, backed up this claim.

“People seem to think there has been a linear evolution of the virus from Alpha to Beta to Delta to Omicron,” he told the Observer, “but,” according to thim, “that is simply not the case. The idea that virus variants will continue to get milder is wrong. A new one could turn out to be even more pathogenic than the Delta variant, for example.”

“There will be more variants after Omicron,” said David Nabarro, a special envoy on Covid-19 for the World Health Organization, highlighting “and if they are more transmissible they will dominate.”

He stressed, “In addition, they may cause different patterns of illness, in other words they may turn out to be more lethal or have more long-term consequences.”

Nabarro advised officials to continue to prepare for the likelihood of a surge in the number of people who are sick and require hospital care.

“It would be prudent to encourage people to protect themselves and others consistently.

“An approach that does not do this would be a gamble with potentially severe consequences. I cannot see any upsides to such a gamble. The pandemic has a long way to go and – as is the case since it started – people and their leaders will influence its long-term impact through actions they take now.”

The warnings came as a parade of blue-state governors began loosening restrictions last week in response to rapidly declining caseloads, more states and cities have since followed suit.

But officials in some cities and school districts are keeping mandates in place, with rules varying county by county in some cases.

While certain pandemic restrictions will be eased in California, schools will still be required to wear masks for at least another two weeks, according to state health officials. In Los Angeles County, a mask regulation is still in effect.

In Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is likely to approve a law making wearing masks in classrooms optional and requiring schools to provide in-person teaching.

Last Monday, the mask mandates in Rhode Island, Delaware, and Nevada came to an end.

The call comes as restrictions are being eased, even though the U.S. is reporting 2,400 deaths a day and more than 150,000 new cases.

While the campaign to loosen restrictions started in swing states like Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, it has already expanded to some of the bluest states in the country, indicating that the country is entering a new political phase in almost two-year pandemic. Many indoor mask standards have changed throughout time, while immunization requirements have remained mostly unchanged.

At least until March 18, federal rules still mandate masks on all kinds of public transport and in major hubs, such as subway stations, bus terminals, and airports.

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, has stated that it is too soon for Americans to remove their masks in indoor public spaces.

“Our hospitalizations are still high, our death rates are still high,” she said during a news briefing last week. “So, as we work toward that and as we are encouraged by the current trends, we are not there yet.”

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