It would be great to say that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us — and there’s some evidence that, for many, it is.

On the one hand, the omicron variant is spreading through the U.S. population like wildfire. On Jan. 3, the once-unthinkable single-day number of new cases surpassed 1 million.

Once believed to be later January, some health experts now expect the fast-moving variant’s peak to arrive as early as this coming weekend.

At this point, there is enough evidence to surmise that omicron leads to less severe symptoms — some have mild fever, while others compare it to a head cold — among the vaccinated and boosted. And while the number of omicron cases is skyrocketing, the number of hospitalizations and deaths are not.

Those who are unvaccinated are significantly more at risk, health experts say.

But despite the explosion of new cases in nearly every state, you wouldn’t know we’re still in the middle of a pandemic by looking around.

Fewer people are wearing masks and more are gathering in large groups, despite the soaring numbers, and mask policies at schools are mostly being eased.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is requiring less time for quarantining — with omicron, isolating has dropped from 10 days to a suggested five days.

It’s likely that people are sick of the pandemic at this point, and feel less at risk by omicron, especially those who are vaccinated and have gotten a booster shot.

Therefore, they are less risk averse than during more serious variants, and before the vaccines were available.

Some health experts have speculated that a variant that spreads rapidly like omicron, but leads to less hospitalizations and deaths, could signal the virus is winding down.

But we’re not there yet. If you work alongside people — or have relatives or friends you see often — who are older or immunocompromised, keep taking precautions, if not for your sake, then at least for theirs.

Health experts have noted they are disturbed by how quickly omicron is spreading, but also how it has been met with a shrug by the pandemic-exhausted public.

It’s possible that omicron could be the last big wave of COVID-19 — and it’s already looking like a tsunami — but let’s keep taking the proper precautions.

People are sick of being cooped up. So, those who feel like getting out and enjoying some socialization or activities should do so — but keep in mind those your actions affect, and act accordingly.

— NCD