This comment is a good reminder that there is nothing that can change to stop people from freaking out about covid at this point, even if if becomes as benign as previous circulating colds/flus.
_If_ that happens, then there would be limited reason for further concern. However, right now, there's no reason to think that it has happened. There's some suggestion that Omicron might be less severe than Delta but the data really isn't there yet.
I'm not sure that 'ecstatic' really represents the expert mood.
This is really all very irresponsible reporting. Like, sure, it _could_ be the case that Omicron really is substantially less dangerous than Delta (though there isn't really enough data to say that with any huge confidence right now), but perhaps wait until that is clear before declaring victory. If that turns out not to be the case, then reporting like this will do a lot of damage.
It influences public behaviour. People see things like this, and become less cautious. Which is, broadly, okay _if_ the optimistic view of Omicron is correct (ie more infectious than Delta, but more benign), but very much not okay if the pessimistic view is correct (either more infectious or better at immune escape than Delta, but just as severe as Delta in the unvaccinated/not previously infected).
Right now, no-one knows which of these, or some range between them, is true, and it's irresponsible to suggest that the optimistic case is true without more data (the headline in particular is very bad).
He who has ears, let him hear.