Causes.com
| 11.29.21
The Omicron Variant: What To Know
Are you concerned about the newest COVID-19 variant?
What’s the story?
- Omicron has been classified as a COVID-19 "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization following reports of unusually high numbers of mutations from researchers in South Africa.
- WHO gave the designation after preliminary evidence found Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves -- such as how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes. They also warned the variant could have an increased risk of reinfection in people who have already had COVID-19.
Key Definitions
- Scientists designate virus variants under classifications based on information like ease of spread, severity of symptoms, response to treatments, and vaccine efficacy against the virus. The different classifications used by the WHO are Variants Being Monitored (VBM), Variants of Interest (VOI), Variants of Concern (VOC), and Variants of High Consequence (VOHC).
- A mutation refers to a single change in a virus’ genome. Mutations happen often, but only sometimes change the characteristics of the virus.
- A variant is a virus that has one or more mutations.
- Find more detailed information about viruses, variants, and mutations here.
The current situation
- Countries with known or suspected cases of the Omicron variant also include Hong Kong, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Botswana, Germany, and several others. The U.S. does not currently have any known cases.
- At least 44 countries, including the U.S., have already instituted restrictions against travelers from various southern African countries.
What are people saying?
- Sweeping travel bans have been criticized by some leaders who say they do not prevent the spread of the variant and instead alarm the public while punishing and stigmatizing COVID-19 transparency.
- Others have said that while travel bans are not long-term solutions, they can be important to buy time for countries to increase their airport surveillance, vaccination rollout, and testing availability.
What’s next
- Studies are underway to better understand the variant and its potential impact on the world. Scientists expect more information will be available in the next few weeks.
- So far, they believe existing vaccines will offer protection from severe illness and death from the variant.
The big picture
- The only other variant to be designated on the same level of “concern” is the Delta variant, which emerged a year ago and is now the overwhelmingly predominant variant accounting for more than 99% of U.S. cases. Delta is estimated to be more than twice as contagious as previous variants. It also poses the most risk to people who are not vaccinated, as the highest spread of cases and severe outcomes occur in areas with low vaccination rates.
- Scientists and doctors continue to strongly recommend following CDC and WHO guidelines, including getting fully vaccinated, as all FDA-approved vaccines significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from all variants.
- Statement from the WHO:
"Individuals are reminded to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated."
-Casey Dawson
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Its manmade by the Democrats funding the Wuhan lab, You profiting off Genocide is another level of evil Congress inflicted on the world.
I’m more concerned about the Press and Democrat-Socialists overreacting using this to continue to destroy the economy!
Please stop the worry! Stop the fear ! Exercise and eat healthy! Much more to fear! Countries at war and our fake administration ruining our country!!
The new variant was brought to the US by a vaccinated person! Our bodies, our choice. Even if you are vaccinated you can catch and give the virus to others. Its a virus!! Hello people! The flu is a virus…you get the shot and still get sick and give it to others! When you understand the health affects on others then you can decide on a mandate! Not everyone can safely have the vaccine. Its not your decision!! We are all carriers! The vaccine does not prevent that! I wear a mask to prevent spread and infection. Do some research that isn’t given by mass media, but some actual real scientific research!
Just a continuation of the hoax. I feel very sad how many countless millions of fallen for this. https://onlineresistancemovementnet.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/greatesthoax.pdf
This is just another opportunity for this administration to extend control over our nation. People are fed up. I personally have little concerns for this variant.
I am concerned because it seems possible that it is more transmissible, though so far not more severe, than Delta or Delta Plus. Unlike those two variants, it may evade the vaccine protections. Don’t complain about canceled concerts, limited dining, canceled festivals and theater events if you are unvaccinated and refuse to remove yourself from circulation in public settings. You are contributing to the problem because the continued circulation of the virus creates the opportunity for the virus to mutate. Viruses that aren’t stopped from infecting hosts mutate. Their purpose is to incubate and reproduce until they can transfer to a new host. The reason the smallpox was eradicated is because every person was vaccinated against it so it had nowhere to go. The longer it takes, with international travel, for every single person to be vaccinated against current variants the more mutations will develop. It seems most likely, though, that we will never be truly rid of COVID or the next pandemic virus or the next. We’ll have to figure out a way to coexist with some protection. We’ll have to find a new normal, I think, because I doubt we’ll be able to go back to a pre-COVID normal.
Not sure yet. I think we need to see what information we learn from the science community before we make any judgement.
A new variant would worry me FAR less had we reached over 90% vaccination rates. We have states in the USA that have not broken 50% due to political stupidity and misinformation. Some countries have done no better due to poverty, political stupidity, logistical challenges, or lack of vaccine availability. The USA could help resolve the logistical and availability issues worldwide so we could defeat this virus, if we could only defeat the stupidity at home!
But I already take Johnson and Johnson, But I already take my Flu Shots, But I do not take Booster just yet.
Yes I am concerned, but being boosted and wearing masks, I feel good about where we are! I feel sorry for the families of the antivaxxer people ! You see every day where they suffer, but they can’t budge there positions, so they suffer and die! We just had on the news where a dad of 40 got the Covid19 and required a double lung transplant! Now just think of the yearly medical cost his family will have to endure for the rest of his days! I really wish the ultra conservative Republicans would not have made this illness caused by a virus a political statement!
No! The Chinese / Globalist attack is the fake excuse used to subjugate us ( all western civilization) into communism through fear.
As yet another variant could be on its way to our country (or possibly already here!) It has been revealed that Trump tested positive for Covid THREE DAYS before his debate with President Biden and then, arrived late to the debates, so was not tested on the day of the debate. Trump was off his game that day, and the reason was he was sick. So, that brings about the question, WHY did Trump insist on the debate? WHY did he endanger all those in his circle and the person who became the next president of the United States? Trump uses any and all things to his advantage and the fact that he showed up at the debate stage too late to take a Covid test is suspicious. Knowing Trump for who he is and what he has done in the past, it would not be unlike him to think that if he could infect Joe Biden it would be to his advantage, which in an older individual in particular, could have been a death sentence.
Of course omicron will be problematic. The bigger problem right now is to get the ANTI VAX to promote our right to live by being vaccinated. Wear masks .
Was t it supposed to be the Xi variant of The Kung-flu?!? Then again Fauci bought and paid for it so…..
We live in the wealthiest country on earth with vaccine aplenty for all of our citizens, yet right wing conspiracy theorist resist vaccination making all of us more vulnerable; meanwhile, South Africa & many other nations have limited supplies of vaccine with citizens begging for vaccination. We cannot fight the virus if we fight each other.
I’m vaccinated and boostered. If the toddlers want to lay on the floor kicking and screaming-so be it. Charge them more for insurance triage them to the bottom for hospital space and if they want to die drowning in their own mucous-bye Felicia The adults are tired and we are moving on.
My concern over this variant is not actually the virus but how crazy and panic driven is this populace going to act in round 2? Adversity brings out either the best or worst in people. So scary how many citizens in this country are cowering to this narrative again. If you want the vaccine get it. If you’ve been targeted as high risk,, please get it! If you’re like me and can’t afford to lose your job to provide for a family, I respect you and call your own shot. I hope you live a long time with or without the vaccine and never forget the people that forced this on you. Forever vote against this ideology.
I'm concerned because we don't know yet how fast this variant can spread, how resistant it is to the vaccines, and how deadly it can be. I'm fully boosted now, so I have low fear or risk from the current variants circulating in the US, but we don't know what omicron will bring. This is why we need to keep washing our hands, wearing masks, getting boosted, and avoiding large crowds of people. It's still our best protection for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors.
I am concerned about the large numbers of unvaccinated Texans listening to disinformation and culture wars propagated by the GOP’s sheer lack of concern for their own voters. 90% of Biden voters are vaccinated. Trump voters 60%. With a year to go, how many more Texas republicans do you think will die before midterms? We have the highest number of deaths in the US with no end in sight. Oh and 2 seditionists need to resign.