One of the first doctors in South Africa to raise the possibility of a new COVID-19 variant, Angelique Coetzee, says the “hype” around Omicron “doesn’t correlate” with the “clinical picture”.
Dr. Coetzee described the symptoms associated with the new omicron variant as “extremely mild”.
According to the WHO, it will take weeks to determine how the variant will affect diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
There have been confirmed cases of the B.1.1.529 variant in Australia, Belgium, Botswana, the United Kingdom, and in the United States and Canada.
According to experts, the new variant contains at least 50 mutations, including 32 mutations in the spike protein, the portion of the virus that enters human cells. Viruses with similar mutations have been linked to the higher transmission and immune resistance than the original strain.
From just over 200 new confirmed cases per day in recent weeks, South Africa saw over 1,200 new cases on Wednesday and 2,465 the next day. New virus variants were discovered by studying outbreak virus samples.
On Sunday, the WHO said it is unclear whether Omicron is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than other variants. It added that “vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death”.
It has been widely disseminated that the most recent COVID-19 variant, Omicron, was discovered in South Africa. COVID-19 vaccination became a hot topic on social media after many people argued that existing vaccines against Omicron were ineffective.
Social media users questioned the ineffective old vaccine, calling it an experimental drug and a business scam rather than a medical protocol or health policy.
False information about the efficacy of the current COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron variant circulated widely on social media. The World Health Organization denied the claim, stating that vaccines are the most critical tool to end the pandemic and save lives and livelihoods.
The WHO added that no Omicron-linked deaths have yet been reported. However, further research is needed to assess its potential to escape protection against immunity induced by vaccines and previous infections.
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