OMICRON VARIANT

 

The Franklin Institute | 

Learning About the Omicron Variant

     ✔ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OMICRON VARIANT

Omicron Variant Spreads Across The U.S.A

On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant named Omicron. Researchers in South Africa and around the world are regulating studies to better understand the Omicron variant.

      It is still unclear whether Omicron is more transmissible than other variants. The number of people testing positive in areas of South Africa affected by this variant has increased, but studies and researchers are working to determine whether this is due to Omicron or other variants. The Omicron variant is more likely to spread than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Data suggests that hospitalization rates are increasing in South Africa, but this could be due to an increase in the overall number of people becoming infected rather than a specific infection with Omicron. All COVID-19 variants, including the Delta variant, can cause severe disease or death, especially in the most vulnerable people, so prevention is always essential.

    Omicron COVID-19 variant - Everything we know so far | World Economic Forum

 This newly found variant delayed the global economic recovery. Based on what we've seen on the news few months ago, the travel restrictions were dismissed to some countries but few weeks ago, this new variant was found and soon brought back the travel restrictions.

   Vaccines Effectiveness: WHO is partnering with technical partners to effectively understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing countermeasures, such as vaccines. Vaccines, including those against the dominant circulating variant, Delta, persist crucial to reducing severe disease and death. Current vaccines protect and defend against drastic illness and death. 

  

WHO encourages countries to contribute the collection and sharing of hospitalized patient data to rapidly describe clinical characteristics and patient outcomes.

MUST DO!

Countries should continue to implement the effective public health measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

The most effective steps individuals can take to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus is to keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others

·         wear a well-fitting mask

·         open windows to improve ventilation

·         avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces

·         keep hands clean

·         cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue

·         and get vaccinated when it’s their turn

  citations: 

https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html