The Omicron Virus is another variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the disease COVID-19. It was first taken into notice by the World Health Organization (WHO) from Africa [SOUTH] on November 24, 2021.
The new variant which is OMICRON was first identified on November 11, 2021, in Botswana and on November 14th in the Republic of South Africa, obsessed with examples collected between 11–16 November; the most realized example was collected in the last country on November 8.
Overview of the new variant of Coronavirus – Omicron Virus
The Omicron variant is likely to spread more quickly than the primary SARS-CoV-2 infection. A person with Omicron which is a new variant of COVID can transmit the virus to other people, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not.
When a virus or pandemic is causing various diseases, the probability of the infection molding into different variant increases since they have a host that is the human body and they uses our body and keep on changing their variants.
This is what the virus does to keep surviving and last for years. Omicron is one such variant but a bit on a milder side.
Facts about Omicron Virus
New variations like Omicron are an update that the COVID-19 pandemic could be away from being done.
It’s very important that each and every individual gets vaccinated at first and rightly follow the govt and medical guidelines like always wearing a mask in public places, washing hands consistently, maintaining a safe distance of like 2 meters, sanitizing the objects that we are in constant touch and also stop attending public gatherings often since there we are more susceptible to the virus.
It is also known that vaccines and other general well-being measures are available everywhere.
Is Omicron virus more deadly?
Studies are going around in the world continuously at all famous labs and hospitals to know if the omicron variant is more deadly than the last variants. But as of now, it seems to be milder than the variant causing the second wave.
Also, this time most of the population is vaccinated so the adversity is minimized to some extent. The danger lies in the age group below 18 since they are the ones who haven’t even received a single jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.
But the only point to remember is that each and every upcoming variant of COVID-19 can cause serious sickness and even the loss of life, including the past variants like Delta.
Omicron Virus and its Vaccine
Scientists around the world are constantly working day and night to know the efficiency of vaccines against omicron variants and there are constant debates regarding the same. The answer may not yet be clear but one thing is clear that the vaccines pose a great shield from getting into adverse health conditions including getting hospitalized and deaths.
It’s evident that vaccines decrease death rates to a certain extent and also prevent from getting into very bad health conditions. Therefore, getting your jabs is the first step to protect yourself against the omicron variant and the rest are the same protection steps that we have been following for the last 2 years like wearing a mask, washing hands constantly, sanitizing regularly and the utmost is maintaining a good distance from the public.
And since the COVID-19 vaccination include 2 shots so it’s important that we get our first jab on time so that both the shots are completed timely and we are well protected before the condition gets too adverse.
Omicron India Overview
In India, the omicron variant may lead to the third wave of COVID-19 and the peak is depicted in February by Prof. M. Vidyasagar FRS, Professor at IIT-Hyderabad.
Addressing a news office, Vidyasagar said that the third wave may show up earlier than expected one year from now in India and die down in an exceedingly short period.
It could all be milder than the second wave, thanks to the extensive vaccination drive going around the country.
In economically rich and developed nations like the US, UK, and Russia, the greater part of the population has got both the jabs, yet they’re currently confronting the third wave.
In this way, India and different nations have to develop the protections and be ready for one more wave though it’s not as destructive as the previous ones, “the writers noted. Also, cases in India are increasing day by day which makes it dangerous for the high population to protect themselves.
Safety Measures for Omicron Virus
The most important step you’ll be able to do is decrease the harm of the virus from causing extreme problems.
To be on the safe side always, get a degree in:
- Wear a double-layered mask that will cover 70 percent of your face below the nose and make sure your mouth is also covered well so that in case you are carrying the infection then you won’t transmit it to someone else.
- Make sure you wash or sanitize your mask and hands after every use and keep them virus-free.
- Maintain a good distance of something like 1 meter from others.
- Stand backfrom swarming spaces which means places that are not well ventilated. In short, always be in a room that is well ventilated be it home or a public place.
- The most important step is to get vaccinated. It’s time we realize that vaccinating yourself is the only and last option to protect ourselves and our families from critical situations.
Omicron Virus Government Guidance
As Omicron cases are spreading at a very fast pace across the country, many states and union territories reinstated night curfews and imposed other restrictions too during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays this year.
Also, the government is constantly requesting and reaching out to people around the country including all the segments of rural areas to get vaccinated as it’s the only thing government can do to protect people from falling into hospital beds. The situation while the second wave of the corona was very dangerous and there was a big loss of life and property in our country within a month.
So, everyone on their part must do their best to keep the situation in control.
As of now the government is imposing night curfews and prohibiting entries from foreign places to states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himanchal Pradesh since these are tourist places and footfall in this season is very high.
Conclusion
At present, a lot of cases are increasing day by day which simply is doubling with every passing day and is increasing the danger subsequently. Being a responsible citizen of a county, it becomes the sole responsibility of each and every person to follow the safety guidelines issued by the government and also maintain the protocols at public places constantly since the festive season and new year celebrations are round the corner and tourist footfall is continuously increasing which makes the situation more dangerous.
For students in college and school, it’s important to sit at a safe distance and sanitize constantly. Again, wearing a mask is the most important thing to not skip. Since the second wave had shown a downfall, people have become more reluctant and are not willing to even wear a mask. It’s high time now that we understand the danger it can possess and maintain safety at first and not wait for things to get adverse.
At this crucial time, it’s only our responsibility to protect ourselves and our family.
Article By:
Diya Kapil | Dehradun, UK
