A new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, called omicron, is considered potentially more dangerous because it has almost twice as many mutations as the delta variant, experts warn.

The fact is that the omicron variant of the coronavirus has several mutations that can affect the behavior of the virus, such as how quickly it spreads and how dangerous the consequences can be.

WHAT DOES YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR OMICRON TODAY?
Scientists from South Africa, as well as those around the world, are conducting studies to better understand all aspects of the omicron strain and will share their findings publicly when they become available.

1. Transmission: It is not entirely clear whether this variant of the virus spreads more rapidly from person to person if we compare it to previous variants, such as the delta strain. The number of positive cases has increased in some parts of South Africa, but epidemiologists and their studies are still trying to figure out if the cause is omicron or some other factor.

2. Severity of the disease: It is not entirely clear whether omicron infection causes a more serious outcome of the disease than previous variants, including delta. Preliminary data show that the number of hospitalizations in South Africa has increased, but this may be a consequence of the overall number of people who are infected, rather than the result of specific omicron infections. There is currently no information that indicates that the symptoms of the disease are different in the case of this variant of the virus. According to the first reported cases, it can be concluded that young people have mild symptoms, but for them to fully understand, it is necessary to wait a few weeks. All variants of the virus can cause serious consequences and death, especially in vulnerable categories.

3. How much does the contagious infection protect: Preliminary evidence suggests that there may be an increased chance of re-infection when it comes to this strain, compared to previous variants, but there is not enough information. And for them it is necessary to wait a few weeks.

4. Vaccine efficacy: The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with technology experts, is working hard to discover the impact of this variant on acquired immunity or immunity acquired through vaccination. The vaccine remains the most important to prevent the consequences of serious covid-19 disease or death, even for this variant. Available vaccines protect against the more severe form of the disease.

5. Accuracy of available tests: As with the other variants, the omicron tests detect the infection. Tests are underway to find out if there have been any changes due to the new variant of the virus.

6. How effective is the treatment: Corticosteroids and IL6 blockers will continue to be useful in treating patients with severe symptoms, and other treatments will be evaluated - whether they work and when it comes to the omicron variant.