The Omicron – a
ON November 26, 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron. This decision was based on the evidence presented to the Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes.
There is still substantial uncertainty regarding Omicron and a lot of research underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk.
Omicron has been detected around the world and it is efficiently transmitting. And in fact, everywhere where we have good gene sequencing, this variant has been detected. What we are seeing is, very sharp increase in case numbers.
According to WHO, almost 10 million cases have been reported in the last seven days.
Development of Omicron variant
When a virus is circulating widely and causing numerous infections, the likelihood of the virus mutating (the changing of the structure of a gene resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations) increases.
The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more opportunities it has to undergo changes.
Prevalence of Omicron variant
The Omicron variant has now been detected in many countries around the world. WHO reports that Omicron is present probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.
Omicron variant and transmissibility
There is now consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant.
A study from Imperial College London showed that the risk of reinfection was more than five times higher. It is more likely that people already vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 could be infected or reinfected. Anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.
Based on the information available, WHO believes it is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where there is COVID-19 transmission in the community. There is a number of reasons for this. First, are the mutations that it has.
The virus is able to adhere to human cells more easily, and it has mutations that allow it to do that. Second, is that what we have what is called immune escape.
And, this means people can be reinfected. The other reason is that we are seeing replication of Omicron in the upper respiratory tract, and that is different from Delta and other variants including the ancestral strain which replicated in the lower respiratory tract, in the lungs.
And so, this combination of factors allowed this virus to spread more easily.
Symptoms of Omicron variant
Available information suggests that Omicron could cause different COVID-19 symptoms from other COVID-19 variants.
Dr. Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who first alerted authorities to the presence of the new COVID-19 variant, has said muscle aches, fatigue, a scratchy throat and night sweats are common Omicron symptoms.
Epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector said the majority of people testing PCR positive have cold-like symptoms, and they do not have the classical triad of the old COVID-19 symptoms of fever, loss of smell and taste, and persistent cough.
And he also added that it will look just like a severe cold to many people, with the majority of symptoms similar to a common cold, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing.
Omicron variant and severity of illness
Early findings suggest that Omicron might be less severe than the Delta variant, but more data is needed and WHO warns that it should not be dismissed as “mild”.
It is important to remember that all variants of COVID-19 can cause severe disease or death, including the Delta variant that is still dominant worldwide, which is why preventing the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of exposure to the virus is so important.
WHO scientist Dr Sowmya Swaminathan mentioned that it would be “unwise” to conclude from early evidence that Omicron was a milder variant than the previous ones.
The sheer volume of cases that we are seeing around the world is really astonishing.
And even with lower risk of hospitalisation, we are still seeing a large number of people who need clinical care who are hospitalised and that will overburden the system. Studies are ongoing.
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron variant
Researchers are looking into any potential impact the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Information is still limited, but there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness and death, and a decline in preventing mild disease and infection.
However, WHO reports that so far it looks like the currently available vaccines offer significant protection against severe disease and death.
It is also important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants, such as the Delta one. When it’s your turn, make sure to get vaccinated.
If your vaccination involves two doses, it’s important to receive both in order to have the maximum protection.
Effectiveness of prior COVID-19 infection against the Omicron variant
WHO reports that early evidence suggests that previous infection could offer less protection against Omicron in comparison to other variants of concern, such as Delta. Information is still limited. You should get vaccinated even if you’ve previously had COVID-19.
While people who recover from COVID-19 may develop some natural immunity to the virus, we do not yet know how long it lasts or how well you are protected. Vaccines offer more reliable protection.
COVID-19 test and Omicron variant
The widely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests continue to detect infection of COVID-19, including Omicron.
Children and Omicron variant
Research is ongoing into Omicron’s transmissibility. People who are mixing socially and those who are unvaccinated are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.
Although, COVID-19 in children is sometimes milder than in adults, some kids infected with the coronavirus can get severe lung infections, become very sick and require hospitalisation.
Like adults, children also can transmit the coronavirus to others if they are infected, even when they have no symptoms.
Vaccine helps by preventing children from getting COVID-19, reduces the spread and probably will help by stopping other variants from emerging.
Therefore, having your child vaccinated for COVID-19 can help to restoring a more normal life and at the same time would help protecting the community.
Explaining children about the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants
News about COVID-19 and now the Omicron variant is flooding our daily lives and it is only natural that curious young children will have questions. Here are some pointers to keep in mind tips for helping to explain.
Children have a right to know what is going on, but it should be explained to them in an age-appropriate way.
Invite your child to share what they have heard and listen to their responses. It is important to be fully engaged and take any fears they have seriously. Be patient, the pandemic and misinformation has caused a lot of worry and uncertainty for everyone.
Make sure that you are up to date on the latest information yourself.
If you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together.
Remember that kids take their emotional cues from adults, so even if you are worried for your little one knowing that they might be uncomfortable, try not to overshare your fears with your child.
Three tips to parents (Dr. Lisa Damour, Psychologist)
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your child. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it new challenges for families across the globe.
UNICEF Parenting provides reliable information to navigating this health crisis on the best ways to keep your family safe.
Under the stress of the pandemic, it is important to remember that we are best able to take care of our children and teenagers when we take really good care of ourselves. Remember, you create the atmosphere in your home and if you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it is hard to create the supportive and positive environment that you want to have for your children. In order to recharge, there are three things you can do.
1. Social support: Make sure that you have got good social support. This means having someone you can tell your worries to and a person or a group who help you to feel and accepted.
2. Happy distractions: Make sure you have happy distractions. This means taking a mental vacation from the pandemic or even the challenges of being a parent sometimes. Find something that you enjoy and that recharges you so that you can come back to parenting with energy that you want to have.
3. Take care of your body: Make sure you are taking great care of yourself physically. Try to get adequate good quality sleep, be active, eat healthy food and enjoy what you are eating. Taking good care of yourself is absolutely critical to being able to be the parents you want to be right now. Remember, children learn to cope with challenges by watching how their parents manage difficult times. Being kind to yourself, especially in the context of the pandemic, offers your children a positive model for how they should care for themselves both now and in the future.
Mind-body health
It appears that it’s extremely difficult to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In this situation, what we have to focus is on how to stay healthy. The aim is to have long life as healthy as possible and then basically die all of a sudden - meaning want to die fairly quickly, not after long protracted illness. Health is one of those things if you have got it, you just have no idea how precious it is; those who have lost their health, would give anything to get it back.
In order to achieve this, we must know what are the factors that affect our