The new Omicron virus, a variant of the Covid-19 strain can have symptoms similar to a normal cold, experts have said. However, experts have also warned that the consequences of this new variant on the human body should not be underestimated.
With Mild Symptoms, Omicron Variant Can Still Be Deadly
This new strain is much more transmissible and could have symptoms of everyday, regular cold.
The new Omicron variant has spread much across Western Europe and is particularly transmitting across the UK.
A study recently conducted in the UK showed that this new variant had similarities with the Delta variant, which arrived in 2020.
In their app, Zoe listed down that runny nose, headache, sneezing, sore throat and fatigue were the most common symptoms amongst Londoners.
This analysis suggests that the Omicron has not mutated into flu-like symptoms like the previous Covid strains.
The Omicron variant is currently present in the UK and particularly the capital, where it is soon to account for all infections in the city.
Lead scientist of the Zoe team, Professor Tim Spector said that this new variant can be easily mistaken for normal cold. The Omicron variant is fast spreading across the globe and could be harder to spot than previous Covid variants.
The Omicron strain was first spotted in South Africa and on November 26, declared a “variant of concern” by the UN. Dr. Spector said that due to its most common symptoms, people should stay at home whenever possible.
Spector also joined other British experts in voicing his concerns that the Omicron variant is due to be the most dominant strain in the UK by Christmas this year amongst rising concerns on the UK heading for lockdown on New Year.
Recently, the British No.10 along with leading health experts of the country said that the rising cases in London should be a signal for other people to curb down on social gatherings and wear masks.
Although smaller studies earlier showed that the Covid-10 strain could cause slow, mild infections and did not pose as much of a serious threat as the Delta variant, the results still need justification on a real global-level scale.
Spector later said that the new strain could cause a peak in the New Year “unlike any seen before”, but also expressed optimism at Boris Johnson’s speech that called for support from the nation in battling this new strain.
The spread of the strain has already caused a rise in hospitalization cases in South Africa, while it is up by 10% every week in the UK.
Vaccine makers said that the virus undermines the efficacy of the double doses, although a booster shot could help curtail hospitalizations and deaths.
So far in the UK, there have been just over 10,000 cases of the Omicron virus, although the common symptoms make it harder to detect.
This Wednesday, the UK saw the highest number of infections in a day since the pandemic began, with almost 79,000 new infections.
Professor Chris Witty, England’s Chief Medical Officer cautioned that the immunity levels among the population are low following the Delta variant surge. He outlined the need for more data from serious cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to understand the seriousness of the Omicron variant.
Dr. David Nabarro, UN’s special envoy on Covid-19 said that the next two weeks were critical for the British Health Service due to two epidemics going on simultaneously, i.e. Delta and Omicron variants.
He said that although the symptoms of Omicron are mild and even if it does not affect the health in a severe way, the rising hospitalizations would still put a tremendous burden on the healthcare system.
