26 November 2021 marked another day of global despair. The WHO defined the variant B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern, titling it Omicron. Omicron’s several mutations may impact how it affects different people; for example, how easily it spreads or how serious the illness and its effects are.
It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more or less transmissible compared to other variants, including the Delta. The number of people testing positive for Omicron has seen a sharp increase in South Africa, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand whether other factors spurred this sharp increase.
Evidence suggests that there may be an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, which means people who were previously infected with Covid-19 could be easily reinfected with Omicron compared to other variants of concern. Still, this information too is limited for now.
Effectiveness of vaccines: WHO is working with partners to understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant: the Delta. However, current vaccines remain effective against a majority of Covid-19 effects.
Effectiveness of current tests: The commonly used RT-PCR tests successfully detect infection with Omicron, same as with the other variants. Studies are being continued to determine whether there is any impact on different tests, including the rapid antigen detection tests.
The new Omicron variant has sent another quiver through the world once again, just like all covid variants. There is limited information on this new variant, but some of the best research companies attempt to study it in-depth. It may affect people even more now, with weak immune systems and other conditions. On the other hand, it seems unlikely that Omicron will faze people with yet another variant in the world. Humans are known to adapt, and it seems we have evolved to incorporate the virus right into our lives.
