Gain-of-Function

With the origins of SARS-CoV-2 still shrouded in mystery, there are now suggestions that the omicron variant could also possibly be the result of an accidental lab leak related to Gain-of-Function research. Without expert knowledge, it is of course difficult to evaluate these claims. Given the millions of people who have died from Covid and the associated toxic political fallout, it may take many years and much more advanced science until we can say with any certainty what actually happened in the early 2020s.

For now, there is still some optimism that the omicron variant may mark the end of the pandemic as it finally brings about that coveted herd immunity or, at least, makes every new wave of the pandemic less severe. In any case, the appetite for large-scale social interventions and new lockdowns is quickly waning.