Omicron Variant: How Does It Measure Up?

Identified in South Africa last week, the new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus has put health officials and national borders on high alert. Designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO) this weekend, Omicron is yet to be identified as more or less transmissible or infectious as the previous Delta strain that swept over the east coast of Australia earlier this year. Too early to tell if this could be another “transient” variant, experts are quickly learning as much as they can.

“If Omicron ends up being more infectious, but less severe in all age groups, vulnerable populations and vaccinated populations, then that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad situation”, stating Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake, an infectious disease specialist at the Australian National University.

Early evidence points Omicron being more transmissible, but less severe than its Delta cousin. If this is the case, it is possible that Omicron may become the predominant strain worldwide. As is the nature with viral mutation, Omicron will be one in a long line of continuing coronavirus mutations. Already arrived in Australia, health officials have been cautious, already restricting borders to those coming from overseas.