The arrival of Omicron variant of Covid-19 really got us thinking whether it’s too early to assume that Covid-19 scare is over! Well, you can’t be more wrong if you thought that life came back to normal. No. The new strain, Omicron is doing the rounds now and it is already declared as “variant of concern” by WHO. It seems like when there were lockdown, curfews and travel restrictions, the corona virus kept on mutating and spread rapidly among more people when everything opened.
Read on to know how you can protect yourself from new Covid-19 strain and get all the necessary information on it.
Latest on Omicron Variant
Delta variant was a deadly virus and just when we thought that the worst has gone, this new strain has been identified by the scientists in South Africa. It was reported to the World Health Organization on 24th Nov.
It is spreading faster than the Delta variant. There’s a drastic jump in active cases. The world recorded 11% global increase in Covid cases with India’s Omicron tally at 781 cases on Wednesday. As it is spreading much faster than the previous variants, many countries are also planning to issue travel bans and other restrictions. In view of controlling the spread of these cases further, large gatherings have already been banned and night curfew has been imposed at many places in metro cities in India. Yellow alert has been issued and schools have been shut down with immediate effect in the Nation’s capital Delhi. New Year celebration may not be that lit this year for you!
Omicron is a virus with over 50 mutations and has set the world on high alert once again. Not to mention Delta variant had less than 20. As of 25th Dec, 108 countries have detected the cases of Omicron variant. The governments and healthcare sectors have to be extra vigilant to sidestep the high risk.
Safety Precautions for Omicron
Scientists around the world are still testing the health effects of this new Covid-19 strain. But given the high number of mutations, specialists are assuming that it could have severe consequences. More study, research and data are needed for better and accurate understanding of Omicron.
The appearance of Omicron variant is a reminder that Covid-19 pandemic is still not over. It is best if you strictly follow the mandatory safety precautions shared by WHO at the start of corona virus spread. They hold true even today. It’s time that we become more vigilant and practice caution in daily life. Only government can’t stop it, we’ve to fight and beat the pandemic together.
To keep yourself and people around you safe, you can follow the below mentioned precautions:
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Get Vaccinated
If you haven’t got vaccinated yet, it is the first thing you should do. It is sure that countries with lower vaccination rate are struggling more.
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Wear Mask
Don’t forget to wear mask when you go out or meeting any outsider. Mask is the best protection from these viruses. Wear one or two masks, according to crowd density of the place where you are going.
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Maintain Social Distancing
It is more than clear that the virus is still in the picture. Practice physical distancing as much as you can and try to avoid going to over crowed places.
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Work Remotely
Many huge companies have given work from home to its employees till the pandemic. It’s a very wise decision and one of the safest options to keep everyone safe and out of danger.
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Wash Hands Frequently
Properly wash your hands with soap and water when you come home from outside. Make sure to keep your hands germs-free as best as you can.
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Use Sanitizer
Always keep a hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are out in public or touch things that could be touched by many. It’s not possible to wash hands every time and also not wise to waste water. The use of sanitizer is a smart choice; though avoid using it in the kitchen.
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Don’t Ignore Symptoms
If you find any sign of illness like fever, cough, weakness or sore throat etc. don’t delay to contact your doctor. Get your RT PCR test done at the earliest. Neglecting any symptom could result in the welcome of disease.
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Follow Quarantine Rules
Make sure you follow the quarantine rules all the time and especially when you are travelling. Self-isolate when you know you should. Limit your visit to the outside places and avoid going to the crowded place as much as possible. Use online apps and websites to order grocery, vegies, clothes, etc.
Other than these precautions you should practice self-discipline and take necessary steps to protect everyone. You should consult your doctor when you feel any abnormal changes in your body, avoid having people over at your place unless it gets necessary to do so, don’t touch your face (eyes, nose) again and again, etc.
We together beat the previous two waves and we can definitely stop this one even before it fully arrives.
Are Children more likely to affect from Omicron Variant?
The latest mutation of novel corona virus has raised many questions around its effect, symptoms etc. These queries are yet to be cleared by the scientists. The main concern for everyone, especially parents, is ‘Does Omicron variant affect children severely?’
Well, the research is still going on about this. There is no scientific data that suggests Omicron will affect children differently than previous strains. But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in the week ending 23rd Dec almost 199,000 children were reported to have Covid-19. Some epidemiological analyses conclude that children have a lower risk of getting hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 than seasonal diseases. Maximum children who require hospitalization usually have pre-existing health conditions.
A detailed research is in progress about Omicron’s transmissibility and the update on it will soon be available. It may take some time for life to come back to normal where we can walk around without the fear of getting infected with any virus. Till then let’s all stay aware and take proper precautions to stay healthy and not to put more pressure on healthcare systems.
Let’s all welcome this New Year with the hope to leave worst of pandemic in 2022. Happy New Year to all!
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