"Zero Covid" was a great strategy during the wild / Alpha / Delta phases of the pandemic, if the population tolerated it. In this Omicron phase, however, healt

"Zero Covid" was a great strategy during the wild / Alpha / Delta phases of the pandemic, if the population tolerated it. In this Omicron phase, however, health outcomes from infection have been mild, and most susceptible individuals have had the opportunity to vaccinate. The extreme transmissibility of this evolution has resulted in its general circulation globally. Therefore, "Zero Covid" is not a sustainable strategy moving forward - its health benefit has decreased, while its societal costs have increased as viral containment has gotten more difficult. There's also no winning condition in sight for this strategy - it'll need to remain in place in perpetuity to be effective. Taiwan, the best country I've seen handle COVID globally, understood this shift and has gradually loosened restrictions as Omicron has found a foothold on the island. From my perspective, it's a result of medical and public health professionals making decisions, instead of politicians.