All you need to know about Omicron and other Coronavirus Variants
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.
COVID-19 PCR Testing at Home in Dubai: Coronavirus variants has affected people all over the world. Coronavirus in Dubai has impacted life drastically as well. Therefore, if you’re showing any of the COVID-19 symptoms, it is important that you isolate yourself and get yourself tested. If you want to avoid queuing up at a hospital, clinic or drive-through, the easiest, most convenient option is to get tested at home in Dubai. First Response Healthcare (FRH) offers the service of getting your COVID-19 test done right in the comfort of your home, office, or hotel at a time convenient to you. Our services are available 24/7, all 365 days a year and we can reach you within 30 minutes, anywhere in Dubai. Our service involves a fully gowned-up nurse (with all Personal Protection Equipment, PPE) visiting a location of your preference for the sample collection. As per the DHA guidelines, they will ask you to share your name, Emirates ID, contact email, address, occupation, and travel history. Post the collection, your sample will be sent to a DHA-approved and accredited laboratory for diagnostic evaluation, and the results of your test will be shared back with you by email within 18-20 hours. If you wish to get the test results sooner, you can choose to go for our Express Service wherein you’ll get the test reports within 8-10 hours. To book an appointment with them, you can call 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also visit https://firstresponsehealthcare.com/ae/dubai