COVID-19: 10 things you need to know about the Omicron variant

By EEW Magazine Online // COVID-19 // Omicron

As the Omicron variant tears across the country, many are wondering what to expect and how they may personally be impacted.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has recommended an adjusted isolation period for asymptomatic individuals that test positive for Omicron—down from 10 days to 5—says, “We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.”

With all that we don’t know about Omicron, here are 10 things experts are saying that you should know, too.

#1 Peak Numbers: The average number of daily COVID-19 cases in the United States has hit a record high of 258,312 over the past seven days, according to a Reuters tally. How many of those cases is caused by Omicron is yet unknown.

#2 Previous Peak: The previous peak for the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 was a figure of 250,141 recorded on Jan. 8 of this year.

#3 States with Highest Infections: States showing the highest daily infection numbers included New York, which reported as many as 40,780 cases, and California, which reported over 30,000. Texas reported more than 17,000 cases and Ohio over 15,000.

#4 Omicron Percentages: The Omicron variant was estimated to make up 58.6% of the coronavirus variants circulating in the United States as of Dec. 25, according to data from the CDC.

#5 Where Omicron Originated: The Omicron variant, which medical experts say is more transmissible but less virulent than previous strains, was first detected in November in southern Africa and Hong Kong. Preliminary data indicated it was more resistant to vaccines developed before it emerged.

#6 A Glimmer of Hope, Maybe: Early South African data offered a glimmer of hope by indicating that the Omicron coronavirus variant is less severe than other strains like Delta. But World Health Organization (WHO) officials cautioned that it was too soon to draw firm conclusions as the strain spread across the globe.

#7 More Data Needed: “More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants,” said the CDC.

#8 Impact of Omicron: The rising case numbers of COVID-19 have led to mandatory self-isolation for thousands of workers in the hospitality, entertainment and airline sectors—escalations that show no signs of slowing down or stopping. If this trend continues, it may cripple the economy due to labor shortages.

#9 Hospitals Expected to be Overwhelmed: Despite some studies suggesting that the Omicron variant is less deadly than some of its predecessors, the huge numbers of people testing positive mean that hospitals are likely to soon be overwhelmed, while businesses struggle to carry on operating because of workers having to quarantine.

#10 Government Recommendations: Government officials are encouraging vaccinations, boosters, masks, and continued social distancing for safety against Omicron.

As we brace ourselves for what is to come, scientists are working to determine how well existing treatments for COVID-19 work. Based on the changed genetic make-up of Omicron, some treatments are likely to remain effective while others may be less effective.

Despite uncertainty, the most important things to do are be safe, respect protocols, avoid spreading misinformation, and pray for our nation during this turbulent time.

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