Omicron Variant: Symptoms, Trends and More

Since COVID-19 surfaced in late 2019, the world has had to adjust to living in these changed times. Since then, several variants have cropped up, including, more recently, the Omicron variant. Now, you may be wondering what the omicron variant is and what symptoms are associated with it. Below, we go over the details of what exactly this variant is, what symptoms are associated with it, current trends and more. Keep reading to find out!

What Is the Omicron Variant?

The Omicron variant is a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 that has led to an unprecedented surge of infections globally. There has been evidence that this variant is spreading much faster than the Delta variant in countries with documented community transmission.

How Serious Is It?

Early findings suggest that there is a reduced risk of hospitalization for the Omicron variant when compared to the Delta variant. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that it should not be dismissed as mild. Increased hospitalizations can lead to a strain on frontline workers and healthcare systems, which can in turn result in more deaths. All variants of COVID-19 can cause severe disease or death, which is why protecting yourself and others in order to prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of exposure is very important.

Are the COVID-19 Vaccines Effective Against the Omicron Variant?

Information on the potential impact that the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines is limited but there is some research that suggests there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness and death and a decline in preventing mild disease and infection. However, the WHO reports that it looks like the currently available vaccines do offer significant protection against severe disease and death. Some early evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who become infected with the Omicron variant can spread the virus to others. The emergence of this variant further highlights the importance of vaccination and boosters.

What are the Symptoms of the Omicron Variant?

The symptoms of the Omicron variant as similar to COVID-19 and the other existing variants. These symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

Elliot Campbell