Omicron Variant: Covid-19 pandemic is far from over – every time we start to live a little normally, there comes news of growing cases or a newer variant. While some Covid-19 variants are highly contagious, some variants are mild. The most distressful aspect about almost every variant is the degree of severity and how rapidly the variant spreads.
The severity of a variant indicates the mortality rate amongst people. The Delta variant of Covid-19 is regarded as infectious and can lead to mild, moderate or severe symptoms in patients. There are other variants of Covid-19, but it was the Delta variant that drove the second wave in India.
Now, after the Delta variant, it looks like the third wave in India will be driven by the newer and highly mutated variant. The World Health Organization revealed a new strain of Covid-19 called Omicron on November 26, 2021, and designated it as a “variant of concern.”
The Omicron variant has matured, with some alterations in virulence, transmissibility, and symptoms. Here, we’ll go over the most recent developments in the Omicron variant, so keep reading.
About the Omicron Variant:
The first Omicron variant case occurred in South Africa. And after that, the Omicron cases have been rising at an alarming rate in countries, including India, Israel, Belgium, Botswana, Australia, Canada and more.
Each mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a different significance, and health authorities need to observe constantly every variant. This observation by health authorities ushered to the B.1.1.529 variant, known as the Omicron variant.
There are many mutations of the Omicron variant that are in the spike protein, which attaches to cells and relates to the spread of the virus. This is why all vaccines in use are focused on combating and stimulating an immune response to the spike proteins.
What about the Spread of the Omicron Variant?
The scientific studies suggest that the Omicron is growing at a faster rate and is highly infectious compared to other Covid-19 variants like the Delta variant. This variant, according to WHO, has some mutations that are worrying and raise the risk of reinfection.
The Omicron variant spreads rapidly, which means that a greater number of people get infected at a time. This variant can evade immunity protection from the previous infection or being vaccinated with a booster. As per CDC, people can spread Omicron despite the fact that they are vaccinated or asymptomatic.
Not just does the Omicron variant manifest dissimilarly compared to other variants, but it has a lower chance of getting seriously ill as well. And this brings us to the next topic – symptoms of the Omicron variant!
What are the Symptoms of the Omicron Variant?
Most studies suggest that the Omicron variant do not lead to severe symptoms. The symptoms of this variant are milder compared to other variants of Covid-19. Some of the symptoms that prior variants included, but the Omicron variant does not are – loss of smell or taste, stuffy nose, high fever and clogged nose.
Mild fever
Low or medium grade fever has been the most classic symptom of the Covid-19 virus from its very inception. More so than earlier Covid-19 strains, which caused patients to have a fever over several days, the prevailing Omicron variant causes a mild fever that vanishes by itself. Beyond doubt, fever can be considered to be one of the tell-tale signs of Covid-19.
Scratchy throat
This one is a little strange, but people suffering from the Omicron variant conveyed having a scratchy throat and not a sore throat. You might think both of them to be more or less the same. However, a sore throat can be linked to throat irritation, while a scratchy throat is itchy and painful. Coughing or scratching one’s tongue against the roof of one’s mouth is a typical way for people to relieve a scratchy throat.
Dry cough
People who have the Omicron variant may experience dry cough. A dry cough occurs when you make a hacking sound to clear any irritation in the throat or airways. Dry cough was a standard symptom in previous variants, and it is still present in the new Omicron variant. However, the Omicron variant, in most cases, does not lead to respiratory issues or cause breathlessness.
Extreme body pain and night sweats
Night sweating can be one of the denotive signs of the Omicron variant that can appear at night, says Dr Unben Pillay, the general practitioner from South Africa’s Department of Health. You can also experience a lot of body pain along with night sweating. Excessive sweating at night can soak your clothes and bed, even if you are sleeping in a cold place. Body pain was in previous Covid-19 strains too, but this symptom was not as common as cough/fever.
Fatigue
Like past variants of the Covid-19, the new Omicron variant can cause extreme tiredness and fatigue. The patient may suffer a lower level of energy, excessive fatigue, continuously wanting to rest, leading to a disturbance in day-to-day life. However, fatigue can be due to other health problems or reasons too. So if you feel exhausted, do not think of it as Omicron, make sure to take a Covid-19 test first.
Preventive Measures Against Omicron Still Remains the Same:
The key to avoiding COVID-19, including the omicron variant, is being aware of the surroundings and neighbourhood virus spread in your area. Also, start practising the COVID-19 precautions that tend to work, like as:
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands after touching any surface or coming home from outside
- Maintain social distancing in outdoor and indoor public spaces
- Avoid gatherings in indoor spaces
- Do not touch your face
- Take the vaccine for Covid-19
- Take the booster shot
Even if you have taken two doses of vaccine, make sure you still wear a mask in public places. Furthermore, ensure extra protection by applying Facitize, a no alcohol face shield gel by RxSAFE, made using essential oils, before you wear a mask. Facitize moisturizes the face and kills 99.9% of germs, viruses and bacteria. For kids, there is Facitize Junior (3-13 years), face shield gel, enriched with Vitamin C.
When to Take a Covid-19 Test?
According to WHO, it takes around 5 to 6 days on average for a person to display any symptoms from the time virus infects him or her. Although, many times symptoms may take 14 days to appear.
However, preliminary data suggest that the time it takes for an infected person to develop symptoms after being exposed to omicron may be shorter than for previous variants.
While the CDC has stated that people infected with COVID-19 may be most contagious a few days before or after symptoms appear, experts believe that the window for Omicron-infected individuals may be shorter.
As a result, if you come into contact with a COVID-19 patient or begin experiencing symptoms, take the Covid-19 test.
