Omicron: Overview, Statistics, Symptoms, Testing, Vaccination and Prevention
By Medical Expert Team
Dec 27 , 2021 | 3 min read
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India has successfully administered over 125.75 crore COVID vaccine doses so far. Vaccination has become even more essential in the wake of the new variant- the Omicron variant. Though there are only a few cases in India yet, you should be proactive to deal with them better.
Omicron - Statistics
There were over 3.46 crore covid cases in India, and over 3.40 crore patients have recovered. Scientifically known as B.1.1.529, South Africa reported this new variant to WHO on Nov 24, and till now, it has spread over various countries, including -
- India
- South Africa
- Botswana
- The Netherlands
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Belgium
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Australia
- Italy
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Austria
- Canada
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Portugal
- Japan
- Reunion (France)
- Ghana
- South Korea
- Nigeria
- Brazil
- Norway
- United States of America
- Saudi Arabia
- Ireland
- The United Arab Emirates, etc.
Symptoms of Omicron
Certain cases reflect that the symptoms of the Omicron variant are different from the delta variant. According to the World Health Organization, the key symptoms remain to be.
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Cough
Testing for Omicron
PCR remains to be the standard test to detect if you are covid positive or not. But to check if you got infected with an omicron variant, genetic analysis is necessary.
Vaccination against Omicron
Research is still taking place to find out the effectiveness of the vaccines against Omicron, but WHO believes that the vaccines offer some protection and decrease the chances of severity and death associated with the disease.
New Norms that the Government of India has Set
Following are some of the steps that the government has taken to deal with the new variant-
-
Travel details and a negative RT-PCR
If travelling to India, you must submit 14 days of travel details and a negative RT-PCR on the Air Suvidha portal.
-
RT-PCR
If you are travelling from a high-risk country, you must undergo an RT-PCR test at the airport and wait until the results. As of now, you don't need RT-PCR if you are coming from countries that are not at risk.
-
The following countries are in the "at-risk" category.
- Countries in Europe, including The United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Botswana
- China
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Zimbabwe
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Israel
-
Institutional quarantine
If your COVID test comes out to be negative, you still need to do a seven days home quarantine. Covid positive cases will get the treatment as per the standard protocol.
-
Genome Sequencing
According to the latest norm introduced on Dec 1, if any traveller comes out to be Covid positive, the samples should be sent for genome sequencing. It will help to detect the omicron strain.
-
Contract tracing at its peak
The officials will do an aggressive form of contact tracing to trace the fellow travellers of the covid positive patient.
What can you do to prevent Omicron infection?
Your role is pivotal for dealing with the pandemic. Here is a list of things you can do to prevent the spread of infection.
- Mask on - Wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth is necessary.
- Social distancing- Keep a distance of 6 feet from others.
- Ventilation- Don't go to crowded places and if working indoors, make sure that you open the windows for proper ventilation.
- Wash your hands- No treatment is better than prevention. Wash your hands frequently to prevent the covid infection.
- Vaccines are the only resort- Though research is taking place to test how efficient the vaccines are, you need to understand that they are the only options. WHO-approved vaccines are safe, and hence you should take them when your turn comes.
Coping with Omicron
It will be best if you cope with the stress of the omicron variant. Following are some of the tips to make you feel better-
- Don't panic, stay calm.
- Don't overthink about the future.
- Take care of your mind and body regularly with breathing exercises and physical exercise.
- Maintain social distancing and wear a mask.
- Make time for activities that you enjoy.
The government is taking steps to combat the new variant, but you need to realize that the effort is also necessary at the individual level. So follow COVID protocol and get vaccinated now.
Written and Verified by:
Medical Expert Team
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