Omicron Less Severe But Travels 70 Times Faster Than Delta, Original COVID Variant: Study

The Omicron COVID-19 variant, the newest addition to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of ‘variant of concern’, causes less severe infection as compared to Delta and the original coronavirus strain first detected in Wuhan, China. However, it travels 70 times faster than these other strains, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong has found out. This reinstates what doctors have said in South Africa, where the variant was first detected. This might further explain why within a month of being identified, Omicron has already travelled to over 75 countries, prompting them to introduce travel bans and strengthen defenses against the virus.

What Did The Study Find Out?

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The research undertaken by researchers at the University of Hong Kong has found vital information about the Omicron variant, which can be crucial to determine the steps that countries might take to prevent its spread. Here is what the study conducted by Hong Kong researchers led by Michael Chan Chi-wai found out:

• The Omicron variant spread to the human bronchus within 24 hours after infection, the university said in a statement. The bronchus is the airway situated in the lower respiratory tract that brings air to the lungs. 
• Giving a hint around Omicron’s severity, the study found out that it replicates 10 times lower in the human lung tissue as compared to other variants, such as Delta and the original strain. This somewhere indicates why Omicron causes less severe disease.

The study is being peer-reviewed and will be published in a journal.

Omicron travels faster but causes less severe infection. This might lead to it populating over other variants, lowering the effect. In due course, this might lead to the virus becoming endemic and cases being recorded occasionally like in the case of dengue, flu, etc.

Also read: Covid-19: Omicron Now Has Three Sub Variants, Confirms Expert

Why You Should Be Cautious About Omicron COVID Variant

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The study nowhere suggests that you should lower your guard against the new ‘variant of concern’. 

• Although no oxygen support or intensive care support has been needed in the case of the Omicron variant till now, since it travels fast, it can put pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
• Omicron might not cause severe infections, however, breakthrough cases and reinfections have been reported among young people in South Africa, which is another reason for concern.
• The Hong Kong researchers who undertook the study have also cautioned against putting your guards down. Since it travels fast, “a very infectious virus” can cause more severe disease and death, although the virus itself might be less pathogenic, Bloomberg quoted the researchers as saying. Also, the lower vaccine efficacy against Omicron is another concern, which can raise the overall threat of this mutation.

About Omicron Variant

Just like any other virus, the novel coronavirus has mutated into various strains, some of which have been highly virulent, while others have been less severe.

• The first case of infection with B.1.1.529 was recorded in South Africa on November 9.
• It informed the WHO on November 24.
• Just two days later, the world health body classified Omicron as a variant of concern, a list of variants that are known to cause severe infections. Variants such as Alpha (first identified in the United Kingdom), Beta (first identified in South Africa), and Delta (first identified in India) are already in this list.
• As of now, the variant has travelled to over 75 countries.
• India has recorded over 70 cases of Omicron as of now.

First identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, the novel coronavirus has travelled across the world and has mutated into dangerous variants. Over 272.2 million COVID cases have been reported worldwide, while 5,330,129 of them have died, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University. The United States is the worst-hit country while India stands second with over 34 million cases and 476,478 deaths.

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