Experts predict the LP.8.1 variant will become dominant, but it is unlikely to cause significant harm due to widespread immunity from prior infections and vaccinations. The European Medicines Agency’s Emergency Task Force forecasts the rise of LP.8.1 and recommends updating vaccines to target it.

Despite its increased transmissibility, experts believe the variant is not particularly alarming in a well-immunized population. Senior researcher Morten Rasmussen from Statens Serum Institut notes that the variant’s mutations are minor, and there is no evidence suggesting it causes more severe illness.

First detected in Denmark in October of last year, LP.8.1 now accounts for approximately 30 percent of gene-sequenced samples. The new mutations in the spike gene are considered “nuances” that the immune system should be able to recognize and respond to effectively.

This development coincides with increasing speculation that the coronavirus is weakening and becoming a milder disease. Omicron variants primarily cause milder symptoms in the upper airways, unlike earlier versions that affected the lungs and caused blood clots.

Denmark experienced a relatively peaceful winter regarding the coronavirus, with low hospital admissions and few corona-related deaths. Morten Rasmussen suggests the LP.8.1 variant fits into this trend, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 may have reached its full potential and is becoming more like influenza or a common cold virus due to widespread immunity.

However, reservations remain, as coronaviruses have previously diverged and triggered serious illnesses. It is also uncertain whether COVID-19 will become solely a winter phenomenon, as it has caused minor outbreaks throughout the year for several years. Rasmussen emphasizes that the virus is relatively new to humans and has demonstrated significant developmental jumps in the past, leaving open the possibility of future changes.