A new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has reached the United States. Nicknamed “Omicron,” the variant originated in South Africa and Botswana in recent weeks, with cases already identified in 20 other countries, including Belgium, Britain, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The first American to test positive on December 1 had returned to California from South Africa on November 22, and tested positive on November 29. Contact tracing was done immediately and everyone who had come into close contact with the person has tested negative. The virus has since infected five New York residents, as well as those in Colorado, Hawaii, and Minnesota, and is expected to spread. The variant has since spread to more and more states, and has proven to be deeply transmissible.

Why Is Omicron Causing Such Panic?

Upon Omicron’s discovery, several countries immediately banned incoming flights from southern Africa, with Israel, Japan, Morocco, and some others barring entry to all foreign travelers, in an effort to stop the variant in its tracks.

According to Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association:

• Hospitals have not been overwhelmed by patients infected with the new variant 
• Most of those hospitalized had not been fully immunized 
• Most patients had not lost their senses of taste and smell, and had only a slight cough

While these early indications are encouraging, public health experts urge caution. Little is currently known about Omicron, and it closely follows the Delta variant, which proved highly virulent throughout the U.S. and many other countries. The first individual in the U.S. who tested positive for Omicron had been fully vaccinated.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, senior medical advisor to the President and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says early indicators of the variant’s limited danger are encouraging, but more research is needed.

Do the Current Vaccines Offer Any Protection Against Omicron?

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the agency is following the cases closely and is aware that omicron has more mutations than previous variants. They don’t yet know exactly how effective vaccines are against it, but they’re optimistic. 

Vaccines not only stimulate the production of antibodies; they also activate other immune cells that attack foreign and infected cells. Since spike protein mutations don’t negate that response, experts expect the vaccines to provide some protection against the Omicron variant. 

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and AstraZeneca are all studying Omicron, and all have expressed confidence that they can modify the current formulas to make their vaccines more effective against new virus mutations. 

How Can I Protect Myself and Loved Ones Against Omicron?

Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of those urging a cautious, conservative approach. “If you’re not vaccinated,” he said, “get vaccinated. Get boosted if you are vaccinated. Continue to use the mitigation methods, namely masks, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.”

Since it can take up to two weeks for the virus to incubate, documentation through doctor visits and hospitalizations lags behind infection dates. Fortunately, Omicron’s distinctive markers make it easily identifiable with a simple nasal swab. If you are at high risk, get tested.

As for the first vaccinated American who tested positive, they experienced only a mild illness and are said to be recovering nicely. 

*Jacobs, A. (2021, Dec. 1). Omicron: What Is Known — and Still Unknown. The New York Times.    https://www.nytimes.com/article/omicron-coronavirus-variant.html

Much about the novel coronavirus, i.e., COVID-19, is still not fully understood. As research progresses and our knowledge of the virus increases, information can change rapidly. We strive to update all of our articles as quickly as possible, but there may occasionally be some lag between scientific developments and our revisions.