Omicron is likely to drive coronavirus cases to new heights, but some experts say dramatic measures like lockdowns are no longer practical.
SEATTLE — Dr. Jeff Duchin, the public health officer of Seattle and King County, Washington, has become accustomed to delivering bad news.
With hospitals on edge, public health experts say extreme measures seen earlier in the pandemic — such as lockdowns, school closures or business shutdowns — remain unlikely in the United States, for now. The sheer speed of omicron’s spread combined with the lack of widespread public will for shutdowns leave the most drastic options off the table.
And Duchin and other health officials continue to encourage wearing of masks and limited social interaction. “I’m not feeling good,” said Cassie Sauer, president and CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association. “There’s so much unknown about how serious the illness is, which is key, but the math is terrible.”
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