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All you want to know about Omicron vs Delta variant of the COVID Virus

  • December 13, 2021
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All you want to know about Omicron VS Delta variant

The new COVID-19 variant is causing confusion and havoc all over the world. Several countries have updated their COVID guidelines, imposed restrictions, and urged everyone to take precautions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Omicron as a 'variant of concern' and is said to be highly transmissible, increasing the concerns of experts.

How different is the Omicron from Delta? Read on as we compare the two mutations that have become a global problem.

Origin of the variant

  • The Omicron variant was first detected in Botswana (on November 11) and three days later in South Africa
  • Meanwhile, the Delta variant was first identified in India in December 2020 before reaching the United Kingdom and the United States. The Delta variant currently accounts for more than 99 per cent of Covid-19 cases.

Vaccine effectiveness

  • A Lancet study revealed that the Covishield vaccine was effective in fighting the deadly Delta variant and led to the development of antibodies. Globally, vaccines have been able to counter Delta.
  • The same cannot be said about the Omicron variant yet, as its virulence and its ability to evade the vaccine-induced immunity are still being researched. “Preliminary evidence, and the considerably altered antigenic profile of the Omicron spike protein, suggests a reduction in vaccine efficacy against infection and transmission associated with Omicron,” WHO has informed.

Global response

  • Due to a lack of preparedness, the Delta variant resulted in severe fatalities. Rising infection rates resulting in increased hospitalizations have overwhelmed the health systems globally, leaving many countries in urgent need of life-saving oxygen
  • The global response to Omicron has been swift. Apart from reintroducing quarantines, several countries have placed restrictions on travel to and from South Africa. Also, immunity has increased since the Delta outbreak due to an increase in the number of people being vaccinated.

Severity

  • So far, the Omicron variant is not very severe, although the variant is 4.2 times more transmissible than delta. The Omicron variant may also be milder than the Delta variant, but the data for the cases are limited in respect to the virulence of the variant.
  • The Delta variant is more likely to cause hospitalization than Omicron, with the Delta variant still being dominant worldwide due to its disease severity.

Precautions

While the Omicron variant is thought to be more dangerous than others, it was the Delta variant that wreaked havoc in several countries, including India, earlier this year. Both may continue to spread concurrently, which would mean that there will be Delta infections and hospitalizations in addition to Omicron ones. Preliminary evidence also suggests that there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron i.e. people who have previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron.

Although Omicron was not yet a burden on the healthcare system, a strict vigil had to be maintained. Hence, we should not let our guards down at all, irrespective of our vaccination status. Kindly follow the basic guidelines: wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain a distance.

 

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