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Comforting on an individual level, perhaps. But If Omicron is 3 times as transmissible as Delta, even thought it is only half as severe, at a population level there will be significantly more hospitalizations and deaths in total during its surge. The mass effect will continue to over run an already depleted health system. The shift of resources and staff to care for the complex, high intensity COVID patients delays or postpones non-emergent but important planned in-hospital care of non-COVID patients such as those in need of cancer treatment or heart surgery. The multiplier effect of the “milder” Omicron on the health system will occur when, not if, health care workers are infected and unable to work for 1-2 weeks at a time. Still, the only proven way to reduce hospitalization and mortality is full vaccination including a booster. The unvaccinated will continue to overload hospitals and have a negative impact not only for themselves but for those who are vaccinated and in need of other non-COVID related care. The only bright spot, in theory, may be that given how rapidly Omicron spreads, this surge may last for a shorter time.
Look at South Africa, the genesis of Omicron, and get back to us.