better now. probably covid is ending. >> reporter: are people being overly optimistic about where we are right now? >> certainly that's a scenario that we can potentially contemplate, but equally on the other side of the spectrum is a scenario that says this variant is replaced by something far more virulent. >> reporter: a year after our first visit to his bio safety level 3 lab, they are still working to answer those critical questions. >> it just goes like wildfire. but it's not -- it doesn't cause as severe of a disease. >> reporter: the latest research shows that in a lab setting, omicron infections can protect against the more virulent delta variant. he says vaccines are still critical to avoid severe illness and death. in a year's time from now, what kind of discussion do you think we'll be having about covid? >> there's a good chance we'll be standing here and discussing