Omicron Is Mild, But In Alarming Spreads – According to Experts

Omicron is taking the world by storm, officially designated a variant of concern^[1] by the World Health Organization two weeks ago. Scares in several African countries have legislators, peacemakers, and ambassadors of public health everywhere very concerned. 

Some fear that Omicron might be even deadlier than the Delta variant. Others believe that it’s not necessarily more lethal, but, instead, simply better at traveling from victim to victim.

Many experts are taking a wait-and-see approach^[2] with Omicron. It’s been more than a few weeks, but the long-term implications underlying an Omicron infection are still largely unclear to those in the scientific community.

Omicron covers ground quickly, but will it necessarily end up taking more lives than slower-moving variants of the past? Here’s everything we know so far about what the Omicron variant is capable of.

How Deadly Is the Omicron Variant?

As Omicron’s numbers balloon, the pressure on public health officials for answers and solutions is mounting. What is the Omicron variant? Should we be worried?

Omicron has been making headlines mostly because of its reach and its ability to spread quickly. Experts warn us that Omicron might be twice as contagious as the Delta variant before it. Early contact tracing data validates this claim, at least for now.

Between its first appearance and its first major peak, Omicron was able to increase its infectious footprint by nearly seven-fold^[3]. This alarming uptick in Omicron cases out of the blue has not necessarily killed more of those affected than previous COVID variants, however.

In a press release from the White House on December 7th, US officials confirmed that, according to case sequencing data, 99% of reported cases in the country still originate from a Delta COVID infection. Other stats paint a portrait of an Omicron variant that leads to fewer hospitalizations per capita infected^[4].

Despite this optimism, public health leaders remain ever-vigilant. Lena H. Sun of the Washington Post reports that experts expect a peak in Omicron cases^[5] as soon as January. 

Facts and Statistics

Omicron is still a mystery in motion, but we do know a few things about it:

• Many experts believe that some vaccines might not be as effective^[6] against the Omicron variation.
• Even if you’ve had COVID-19 and have recovered, Omicron presents a significant risk of re-infection; this research is ongoing and evolving, however. Some observations suggest that previous infection followed by a full round of vaccination and an additional booster^[7] might be the best way to neutralize Omicron, especially in high-risk cases.
• Social distancing and masks appear to be just as effective on an individual-to-individual level against Omicron as they were against previous COVID variations. Six feet distance and a mask, and you reduce your risk of contracting Omicron significantly.

This last point should provide some relief for those with families to protect them from Omicron. If you’re living in an area of high incidence, avoid exposure to the public whenever possible.

Where Is Omicron Spreading The Fastest?

Omicron was first detected in South Africa and neighboring countries. 

While these places have unquestionably been hit the hardest, Omicron continues on an unstoppable rampage through the rest of the world. Part of the blame has been attributed to the notion that some vaccines might not be as effective against an Omicron infection.

We know that Omicron has currently established itself in 35 of the 50 United States. These numbers began to skyrocket over the last week and a half after Omicron washed ashore in mid-November. COVID as a whole has officially taken 800,000 American lives. Omicron is on course to keep pace with the Delta variant before it here at home.

The first official Omicron-related death was tallied in the UK on December 13 of this year — an anticlimactic milestone without a doubt, given what we’ve already borne witness to. The variant has been making headway in the country for weeks. 

While this death is a tragic development, it’s a far cry from the nightmare we were watching unfold before us in real-time at the beginning of the pandemic.

Approximately 25% of South Africans are vaccinated as of the time of this writing — some claim that low vaccination rates are partially to blame for Omicron’s unprecedented takeover. The evidence shows, however, that vaccination is significantly less effective against an Omicron COVID infection. The strength of the virus itself appears to be what’s breaking through.

What The World Is Doing To Contain Omicron

The people are scared, and the leaders tasked with protecting them are on high alert. Nations all around the world are doing what they can to prevent Omicron from crossing into their territories. The US now reports 36 states being infected by Omicron.

Some recent public health implementations against Omicron include the following:

• More than 70 countries globally have imposed travel bans^[8] on every port of entry, blocking incoming flights from countries where Omicron runs rampant.
• The World Health Organization is urging legislators to redouble their surveillance and sequencing of cases^[9] and to share what they find in a way that is available to the public. This effort includes field investigations, lab assessments, and analysis of case clusters for possible underlying catalysts.
• Citizens in many countries are scrambling to receive boosters before it’s too late.

Other mandates include many similar guidelines to those that we saw when the Delta variant became a variant of concern in its own right. With any luck, travel restrictions, accessible testing, vaccine outreach, and personal responsibility will be more than enough to see us all through.

A World in Peril: Our Brand-New “New Normal”

The faster the coronavirus manages to spread, the faster it’s able to evolve into newer, deadlier, and more contagious variations. Until we’re able to contain Omicron effectively, it only stands to gain more ground with which to become more powerful.

Thankfully, the experts are on the job 24/7. We only have the real-life superheroes behind these anti-COVID measures to thank for our success thus far. With any luck, we’ll be able to keep Omicron in check and prevent the next big surge.

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