I think there are few differences. 1) Covid-19 was more dissimilar from previous coronaviruses than Omicron is from current ones. 2) There is a lot more covid

I think there are few differences. 1) Covid-19 was more dissimilar from previous coronaviruses than Omicron is from current ones. 2) There is a lot more covid-19 in the world now so rare occurrences are more common. 3) There was other evidence for the lab leak hypothesis. A cover up from China, a viral research lab in the city with the outbreak, etc...