Antigenic evolution will lead to new SARS-CoV-2 variants with unpredictable severity

The comparatively milder infections with the Omicron variant and higher levels of population immunity have raised hopes for a weakening of the pandemic. We argue that the lower severity of Omicron is a coincidence and that ongoing rapid antigenic evolution is likely to produce new variants that may escape immunity and be more severe.

Automated summary

The milder infections with Omicron variant and higher levels of population immunity have led to hopes for a weakening pandemic. However, the authors argue that the lower severity of Omicron is coincidental and ongoing rapid antigenic evolution may generate new variants that can evade immunity and be more severe.