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Yes. That's the natural evolutionary progression of these bugs, since exterminating the host (or in the case of humans causing us to take deliberate measures to avoid infection) is not conducive to survival.Originally Posted by Hueypilot
Likely. Multiple sources have reported that current cases of Omicron have been mild and there's no uptick in hospital admissions. There was fear that Delta was going to be a much deadlier variant, but instead it's mortality was about the same...it was just more virulent and spread easier. Omicron's mutations are probably geared for better and easier spread, but probably not deadlier. Coronaviruses that make up cold illnesses are highly transmissible but extremely mild, and I'd wager that the COVID virus will likely become just another endemic human virus that generally produces mild to moderate illness. It'll probably become another flu-like illness with the added kick that it presents an elevated risk to older and immune-compromised individuals.
There's no evolutionary drive to become more dangerous, if that happens the mutation would have to be associated by chance with another feature which gives enough advantage to offset the increased danger to the host.
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Yes. Just like all of the other respiratory viruses in the history of warm-blooded life.Originally Posted by Hueypilot
The world needs to learn to live with this and accept it as part of the landscape. It's not going to be eradicated like other less transmissible viruses.