We are going into our third year of living with COVID-19. It has been an arduous journey, and it seems only to be getting harder as the days go by. We have had our fair share of COVID-19 variants like the Delta, Gamma, Alpha, Beta, and now the newly founded Omicron variant.

The variant that seems to be taking the spotlight in recent days is Omicron. With its nickname of Omarion, after the famous R&B singer. The World Health Organization categorized this variant as “mild.” However, that does not seem like the case with the rising cases and how highly contagious it appears to be. According to the Global Health Agency, “While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorized as mild,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the Global Health Agency (Courtesy of moneycontrol)

It is just as Tedros said, the Omicron variant, while highly contagious, seems to only be a slight cold in those who are vaccinated. However, those who are not vaccinated seem to be getting the worst of the symptoms and their effects. Over the break, it seems like everyone got sick, especially if they were in big crowds. Many are concerned about this variant, while others feel relatively safe behind their vaccine. Senior Beverly Juarez is vaccinated yet concerned. She tells us, “It concerns me because a lot of people are still not vaccinated and its more normal to not wear a mask and people act like the pandemic is over when it is not so… it is just scary.”

Others believe that the pandemic would not have reached its point today if everyone got vaccinated. Staff Writer for The Blue and White, Janessa Monchery, tells us, “It all comes down to incompetent human beings who believe some idiotic conspiracy theories, instead of scientific research. They’d rather believe that rubbing oils on their bodies will protect them from pneumonia which is a side effect of COVID-19. It has been shown time and time again that there is a large gap between vaccinated and unvaccinated people when it comes to deaths and when it comes to getting COVID period.”

COVID-19 cases have been rising by the hundreds of thousands in Florida with a total of 822,903 cases in the last 14 days. That is an all-time high and it is only rising as the days go by. With more people getting vaccinated, it seemed like we would be able to coexist with COVID-19. With everyone back in school after Winter break, the concern of the spreading of Omicron has risen. Every day students, teachers, and faculty are within close proximity of one another.

However, whenever a new variant is found, hope begins to be lost. We look to our government officials, the CDC, and various health organizations on their next coming plans. With the same rhetoric of getting vaccinated, keeping your distance, and disinfecting as you go, it makes you wonder: Will this pandemic ever end?