The ongoing outbreak of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 could end in March 2022, Bill Gates said.
The US billionaire posted on Twitter that the spread of the coronavirus forced him to cancel his winter holiday plans.
“Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it. Those few months could be bad, but I still believe if we take the right steps, the pandemic can be over in 2022,” Gates tweeted.
Commenting on Omicron’s rapid spread, Bill Gates warned that it could soon appear in all countries of the world and that it should not be taken lightly as it is not sufficiently studied.
Gates noted that most people would either get sick with Omicron or get vaccinated and that the rapid rise in cases would quickly peter out in several months. “Even if it’s only half as severe as Delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it’s so infectious,” he added. “In the meantime, we all have to look out for each other, especially the most vulnerable, whether they live down the street or in another country. That means wearing masks, avoiding big indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated.”
“Someday the pandemic will end, and the better we look after each other, the sooner that time will come,” Gates concluded.
