So, unless SARS-CoV-2 becomes so virulent that it causes people to become severely ill and self-isolate before they transmit the virus to other people, there is no pressure on it to become less deadly.

Are some COVID-19 variants more dangerous?

Some variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

What happens if COVID-19 mutates?

Thanks to science fiction, the word “mutant” has become associated in popular culture with something that is abnormal and dangerous. Yet in reality, viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are mutating all the time and often this process does not have any impact on the risk the virus poses to humans.