Everything you need to know about the Omicron variant so far.

As you have heard there is another variant of COVID-19, and it comes with good news for those who are weary after hearing about this as evidence points to Omicron being mild.

While 90% of cases in Johannesburg area there has been no increase in the amount of people being taken to hospital. Symptoms appear to be unusual but very mild, says hospitals and GPs throughout South Africa.

The symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Body Aches
• Headaches
• Nausea
• High Pulse Rate

These symptoms are not found often in the older generations and mainly being found within the younger ones. Those who did get the variant only became slightly ill and those who were vaccinated presented no severe cases. However, there is still information to be found out about this variant and how it would affect the older generation.

Despite evidence from sources within where the outbreak is proving that this virus is presenting mild symptoms, countries like the UK rushed to close their borders. Dr Angelique Coetzee who was the first doctor to suggest that COVID-19 had mutated into another new strain is also supporting those such as the WHO that are telling countries to drop the restrictions.

The WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said, “If restrictions are implemented, they should not be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and should be scientifically based, according to the international health regulations, which is a legally binding instrument of international law recognised by over 190 nations.”

Evidence continues to tell people that so far there have been no increase in Covid deaths or hospital admissions anywhere in Southern Africa. Vaccine manufactures around the world rush to tweak the existing vaccines to stay up to date with the Omicron variants and ones to follow so that protection against these variants comes as quickly as possible. Despite, The Minster of Health of South Africa saying that there is no evidence that this variant evades current vaccines.

Scientists and the WHO have said that Omicron spreads quicker than the variants before it, including Delta. However, they are also telling countries to be “cautiously optimistic” and to not add unnecessary measures when they are not needed, as this variant has only shown mild symptoms and since it has now been found outside of South Africa.

Information on Omicron is still being discovered but many are urging governments and people to follow science, not fear.