Omicron: The new coronavirus variant that is threatening the world

With coronavirus restrictions steadily relaxing and vaccines being widely administered, the world was getting back on its feet. However, recently, this return to normalcy has been threatened as yet another coronavirus variant known as Omicron has emerged. It was first detected in the southern parts of the African continent earlier in November. Experts believe that it could potentially be spreading faster than the Delta variant which was detected earlier this year. The World Health Organisation has referred to Omicron as a “variant of concern” and has urged countries to put in place the required precautions to avoid the its spread. Here is what is known so far about this new variant of the novel coronavirus.  

What makes the Omicron variant different? 
Due to its recent emergence, Omicron is yet to be explored sufficiently. However, what scientists have confirmed so far is that its genetic profile is starkly dissimilar to the other circulating variants. Another critical difference is that omicron has a much larger number of mutations, amounting to around 30. This is a severe cause for concern since it means that it is more transmittable and more capable of fighting immune defences.  

One positive point to note is that this new variant is capable of being identified relatively quickly by diagnostic laboratories, unlike the others which used to rely on a longer process of genome sequencing. 

Are Omicron’s symptoms similar to other variants’? 
The South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has maintained that as of now, those affected with this variant there show no unusual symptoms, while some remain asymptomatic. 

Will vaccines be able to combat Omicron? 
According to experts, although the new variant could potentially weaken the effectiveness of vaccines, they will still be able to provide protection against the new variant. Therefore, it is predicted that vaccines will still be required to combat it to some degree. Also, according to WHO, previous SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests will be able to detect it. 

What is the situation globally after Omicron’s emergence? 
After news about Omicron broke out, countries have already started putting measures in place in order to make sure that it is contained. Certain countries like the UK, Singapore, Japan, etc. have already announced travel restrictions on flights from South Africa and its neighbouring countries. The US and Canada are also planning to put similar restrictions in place soon.