The World Health Organization has designated Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’, which belongs to the B.1.1.529 lineage. Scientists in South Africa were the first to discover this variant, but it has since spread to nearly a dozen countries, including Australia, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Botswana, and Belgium. 

So, what makes Omicron unique, and why is it considered a high-risk variant? Are vaccines effective in preventing it? So, what are your options? Take a look:

Omicron carries over 30 spike mutations, more than twice as many as Delta, making it potentially more dangerous, with a higher risk of reinfection. Since its discovery, it has outpaced Delta and established itself as the dominant strain in areas of South Africa where cases have increased. 

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However, it is still unknown whether it is more contagious or causes more severe illness than other variants. The UN health agency’s assessment, contained in a technical paper distributed to member states, amounted to WHO’s strongest, most explicit warning yet about the new version, which was discovered by researchers in South Africa just days ago.

The Omicron variant has “considerable uncertainties”, according to the WHO. However, preliminary evidence suggests that the variant may have mutations that help it both evade immune responses and spread from one person to another.

Do vaccines work against Omicron?

The number of mutations is concerning, but vaccines are still necessary for preventing severe diseases and death. The World Health Organization is collaborating with technical partners to determine the potential impact of this variant on vaccines.

What can you do?

Among all the measures and practices there are a few that you should be swearing by, such as getting vaccinated, avoiding crowded places, maintaining social distance, wearing a mask and using a sanitiser. 

The emergence of the new variant demonstrates that the pandemic is far from over — and that COVID-appropriate behaviour, such as masking, social distancing, good ventilation in all shared spaces, and regularly washing or sanitising hands and surfaces, is critical for breaking the chain of transmission.