There’s nonetheless quite a bit we don’t learn about the omicron coronavirus variant, together with whether or not it causes extra extreme COVID-19 or the diploma to which it evades vaccines’ defenses in real-world settings.
But early data collected in London reveals the reply to a query we’re all asking: Does omicron trigger completely different symptoms than delta and different variants?
Not fairly, in accordance with the ZOE COVID Study — an app some U.Ok. residents use to self-report details about their coronavirus vaccination and infections.
A comparability of data from hundreds of individuals who examined constructive for COVID-19 in October when the delta variant was dominant in London in comparison with December when omicron took over reveals “no clear difference in early symptoms (3 days after test).”
The high 5 reported symptoms in each durations, nevertheless, counsel the widespread chilly you suppose you’ve got may very well be COVID-19.
Runny nostril, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat have been the most typical symptoms amongst London residents, with some individuals additionally reporting loss of urge for food and mind fog, data shows.
Typically, COVID-19’s “classic three symptoms” embrace fever, cough or loss of scent or style, however solely 50% of individuals in the early evaluation contaminated with delta or omicron skilled them.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examine on 43 COVID-19 sufferers sick with the omicron variant discovered cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nostril have been the mostly reported symptoms.
But consultants warn towards relying on symptoms to find out for those who’re sick — and with what.
“The trick is you’re not going to be able to tell the difference between omicron, delta, lambda, plain COVID from the beginning,” Dr. Emily Landon, chief hospital epidemiologist at University of Chicago Medicine, advised NBC Chicago. “Influenza or even common rhinovirus causes most of our common colds in the winter. You’re not going to know the difference between those if you just look at your symptoms.”
“For many people, those symptoms are overlapping,” Landon advised the outlet. “You’re just not going to know especially at the beginning of an illness, what kind of illness you have. You have to get tested.”
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The omicron variant has been detected in a minimum of 39 states and greater than 75 nations, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated throughout a Dec. 17 White House COVID-19 briefing.
Does the omicron variant trigger extra extreme illness?
Doctors caring for COVID-19 sufferers in South Africa — the place the variant was first detected — stated in November the omicron instances they handled at the time have been gentle, and principally amongst youthful individuals.
Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, advised BBC her omicron sufferers had scratchy not sore throats, and didn’t have a cough or loss of scent or style.
More latest data from the nation shows the threat of hospital admission amongst adults contaminated with omicron is 29% decrease than that of adults contaminated with the authentic coronavirus pressure when the pandemic started in 2020.
However, a examine by the Imperial College London discovered no proof that omicron causes much less extreme sickness than delta, primarily based on the proportion of contaminated individuals who report symptoms or search hospital care.
It stays unclear if omicron itself is much less extreme or if different elements, similar to traits of the contaminated inhabitants, might play a job, consultants say. Meanwhile, early research present two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine might not defend you towards omicron an infection, however can towards hospitalization and loss of life; booster photographs considerably enhance immunity.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief White House medical adviser, stated the “seriousness of infection” with omicron is “still up in the air right now.”
“Certainly, looking at what we see, it does not look like it is more severe, but we have to withhold judgment,” Fauci stated throughout the Dec. 17 White House briefing.
It’s clear omicron is extra contagious than different variants, he added, particularly for those who take a look at New York, the place omicron infections broke the state’s report for each day new reported instances for 2 consecutive days.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, advised NPR the U.S. may see 1 million new COVID-19 infections per day if we let our guards down.
Experts say the greatest option to defend your self towards omicron is to get examined ceaselessly, social distance, get vaccinated and boosted, and put on a face masks indoors.
