It hasn't been a month since the Omicron variant was reported to the WHO. All the indications could point any way and we wouldn't have solid evidence yet - it takes time for the disease to play out. NYMag can't magic solid evidence into existence when it doesn't really exist, especially from a week ago. This is the same sort of thing as got the "its just a flu" type mutterings while the pandemic was ramping up.

It might be a lot milder, and that would be nice. But if it turns out to be about the same then the speed of its spread is scary.