On the off chance that the CDC is making rational decisions, it's possible they have more evidence on how mild Omicron is. If it's highly mild as some models have been suggesting- And I hate to compare it to the flu, but some models are saying it could be less likely to hospitalize than a seasonal flu- It's possible Fauci and the CDC are easing into an era where this virus is not of serious concern.

That said, I think this is one of many, many examples of terribly mismanaged public messaging we've seen throughout this pandemic. There just isn't enough clarity or reliable reasoning in a way that feels like they're really on our side, and I think that's part of why so many people believe they aren't.