The Omicron variant of COVID, which was discovered in South Africa, quickly surpassed Delta in just less than a month’s time and is now the dominant strain in the United States with more than 70 percent infection cases. Parts of the Atlantic States, parts of the Midwest, and parts of the South and the North Pacific States are mostly covered with the Omicron cases and the rate at which the infection is increasing will surely cover up the whole country.
The Risk Of Hospitalization Due To The Omicron Strain Is Lower
People who are unvaccinated have a higher risk of contracting COVID and are more likely to die from the virus than those who are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots. Although when it comes to fighting the omicron variant the two-dose vaccine is not sufficient enough.
As COVID cases resurface in the United States, Americans are scrambling to obtain test kits in time for the holidays. Long lines and increased demand for kits have overburdened facilities across the country and as per some medical experts, the long queues will lay the foundation for a major outbreak of the omicron variant in the country.
People have begun to travel for holidays and family gatherings, so the tests are in high demand, and people are running out of options. People are getting tests either at clinics or by purchasing at-home test kits and now the Biden Administration has been urging people to get tested and also avail the benefits of the home testing methods.
In the major cities like New York City, California, New Jersey, Miami, Ohio, and Minnesota long test lines can be seen as people are rushing to their homes for the Christmas and New year celebrations with their families and they want to be double sure before they meet their loves ones.
On Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer’s antiviral pill, Paxlovid, for the severe treatment of the Covid 19 infection. It is the first antiviral COVID pill that sick people can take at home before going to the hospital. It is legal for people over the age of 12 who weigh at least 88 pounds.
The Pfizer antiviral pill has also demonstrated a significantly lower risk of hospitalizations and deaths, as well as 90 percent efficacy rates.
People infected with Omicron infections have an 80% lower chance of experiencing severe symptoms or being hospitalized as per the US CDC and Even if a patient is hospitalized, the risk of severe disease remains the same and it will reduce the death rate in the country.
The risk of being hospitalized for a day or longer due to the Omicron variant is between 20 percent, which is lower than the risk of being hospitalized due to the Delta variant which was 45 percent. When compared to the Delta, Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in COVID hospitalization.
