Actually, John Campbell tends to pay an undue amount of attention to MSM and statements from authorities who have no real data to back their claims. For example he's a big ivermectin fan when well designed double blind studies have found it does very little. And recent thinking by just about everybody (including qualified virologists) thinks fomites contribute very little to spread.

I think the holidays did contribute to the quick spread in the West, But also simple precaution exhaustion plays a major part everywhere. And simple math: During most of the Delta time, we were on a less steep portion of the exponential curve. Now we are on a more steep portion. That's just how exponential curves work.

Rick: Your home test (assuming it's on the FDA list of tests that respond to Omicron) will tell you if you are infectious. Your PCR test is more sensitive and may say you have viral RNA present in your upper respiratory tract for weeks after you are no longer infectious. It is vital to get a CT value. Above 30 means you are not infectious.

Educating anyone benefits everyone.