Omicron and Other Coronavirus Variants: All You Need to Know

Omicron and Other Coronavirus Variants: All You Need to Know Published on: 3rd January 2022 Medically reviewed by: Medical Director at First Response Healthcare Viruses constantly evolve and change due to mutations. When a virus has one or more than one new mutation, it is known as a variant of the virus. Currently, experts have discovered and identified two coronavirus variants or SARS-CoV-2 virus. The most recent variant that has been found is Omicron. The Omicron variant was first reported in South Africa, and since then it has spread in more than 90 countries. It is known to spread faster than the other variants, even faster than the Delta variant. It is not yet certain whether the Omicron variant causes more severe disease or not. According to preliminary research, Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms. Experts believe that vaccination can protect against the severity of the illness, hospitalizations and death caused by the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant can be detected by RT-PCR testing. Through this testing, the presence of specific genes like Spike (S), Enveloped (E) and Nucleocapsid (N) can be found to know whether you have the Omicron variant. For confirmed information on the presence of the Omicron variant, a genomic sequencing process can also be carried out. Delta is another coronavirus variant that is known to be twice as contagious than the earlier variants and can cause more severe illness. However, the vaccine can be effective in preventing severe illness and death even in the case of the coronavirus variant Delta. It is also crucial to follow safety measures of wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and sanitizing your hands often to protect yourself from getting infected.