As the year comes to an end, it is important to take a moment and recognize the victories we have seen in the United States regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools have returned to (almost) normal operations, vaccines have been rolled out rapidly for almost all age groups, and booster doses are now available. While we have seen much progress, the new variants of COVID-19 are continuing to arise which can be confusing and alarming. In December 2020, the Delta variant was first discovered in India. In March of this year, the Delta variant was found in the U.S. and quickly spread throughout the country. As of August 2021, the Delta variant became the predominant strain in the United States due to its highly transmissible nature. Almost a year later, the new Omicron variant has been found. On November 24, 2021, the first Omicron variant case was identified in South Africa. On December 1, 2021, to first Omicron variant case in the United States was confirmed in San Francisco, California. The individual who tested positive recently traveled from South Africa and had returned to the US on November 22, 2021. They experienced mild symptoms that have been improving and are currently self-quarantining. All close contacts were notified and have tested negative. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated Omicron as a “Variant of Concern” and many researchers in South Africa and around the world are working to learn more about it.
Unfortunately, not much is known about the Omicron variant. While the Omicron variant has many new mutations, it is unclear what this means in terms of transmissibility and infection. As the number of cases has risen in the areas affected by this variant, it is unclear whether this is due to the nature of the variant or other factors. Researchers are also trying to learn more about the severity of Omicron in comparison to the other variants. According to the WHO, “Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease.” While original Omicron variant cases may be mild, this is likely because it has mainly been seen in younger people who tend to have milder symptoms with all variants of COVID-19 thus far. It will take several weeks to have a better understanding of the Omicron variant and its severity.
Another common question is the rate of reinfection. Reinfection is when someone who has already been infected with COVID-19, the original virus or the Delta variant, is reinfected with the virus or one of its variants. While there is very little data, early evidence suggests the Omicron variant may have a higher reinfection rate than previously seen. There are mutations that may allow for the Omicron variant to avoid one’s antibodies, which may affect reinfection as well as the effectiveness of the vaccine. The vaccine has so far been effective against the original strain as well as the Delta variant in preventing severe illness. However, antibodies produced by contracting the virus or receiving the vaccine may not fully protect individuals from the Omicron virus, according to scientists studying the mutations.
The WHO and the CDC are committed to sharing the most up-to-date information they have, and researchers around the world are working to learn more about the Omicron variant. Until then, we can only continue doing what we have been: wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccines and/or booster shots when it is available for us.
This is an article regarding COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing rapidly every day. This information was last updated on November 30, 2021. For the most recent updates, be sure to check out the CDC website (cdc.gov) and WHO website (who.int).
The graphic below details the mutations and their possible effects on transmissibility, infections rates, and more. However, these are currently being tested by scientists and researchers, and the potential of the Omicron variant has yet to be confirmed.
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