Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know

All viruses change over time including the COVID-19 virus. Some changes may affect the virus’ properties, such as how easily it spreads, its performance towards the vaccines, therapeutic medicines, diagnostic tools, or other public health and social measures.

The Omicron is the latest variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). This variant according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is likely to spread more easily than the original COVID-19 virus. The CDC expects that anyone with the Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Symptoms:

Some of the symptoms from the previous variants like difficulty in breathing and loss of smell or taste may not affect patients with Omicron. Below are the more likely symptoms of the variant:

• Tiredness and muscle aches
• Scratch throat
• Headache
• High temperature
• Dry cough
• High pulse rate

If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms or if you have been in contact with anyone with any of the symptoms, get tested today.

Vaccines:

Current vaccines like AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalisations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective. The recent emergency of the latest variant Omicron, shows the importance of getting vaccinated.

How can we reduce the spread of the virus?

Let’s keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others, properly wear a well-fitting mask, open windows to improve ventilation, avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces, keep hands clean by washing or sanitising them, cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue and get vaccinated.

For more information, you can talk to the doctors at Rocket Health. Simply dial *280# and choose Doctor Consultation or order from the website.

Written by Angella Hilda Kemirembe