In truth, the virus has already been largely defanged for most Americans, and it would be surprising if Omicron changed that. The death rate for vaccinated adults under 50 is virtually zero, according to data from Minnesota and King County, Wash. (which publish detailed statistics); the hospitalization rate is similar to that of a typical flu. For children, vaccinated and not, the risks are even smaller.

But I know that many Americans remain terrified of Covid. After nearly two years of pandemic living, returning to normal can be hard, especially with the genuine uncertainty about Omicron. Once the treatments are widely available, they can offer reassurance, as a last line of defense against severe Covid.

Of course, the medical benefits will be even bigger than the psychological benefits for people who remain vulnerable to Covid.

Deaths are predominantly occurring among the unvaccinated, although vaccinated Americans older than 65 — especially those with existing medical problems — are also at some risk.