There’s a glimmer of optimism shared by health experts as they keep a close eye on the rise of COVID-19 cases that result from the omicron variant.Although the variant’s transmissibility rate appears to be high, doctors think omicron may not lead to as many deaths as the delta variant.”As of yet, we have not seen it behaving badly,” said Dr. Mark Vaughan of Auburn Medical Group. “At least compared to the delta variant.”Vaughan said, as of right now, there are no reported deaths of people known to have been infected with the omicron variant.”We were actually really concerned/distracted by the possibility of it being a more deadly variant and never really thought in terms of well it could go just as easily go the other way,” Vaughan said.That other way being, people end up with more mild symptoms if they get an omicron case of COVID-19 vs. one that results from the delta variant.”If you think about it, any living organism or virus… the way that it exists in the future is by spreading and multiplying so there’s more copies of it out there,” explained Vaughan.Getting more copies out there could be as efficiently done by the virus as “going easier” on the people with it.It may be, in that sense, a better virus in that it is more likely to spread because it doesn’t kill its host right away.With omicron in the mix, the White House talked about vaccination efforts this week – touting Wednesday’s highest single-day total of vaccines administered since May with 2.2 million COVID-19 shots going into the arms of Americans.Vaughan said people seeking boosters or protection at holiday gatherings, newly-eligible kids are contributing to vaccine totals, as is the new variant.“Omicron, of course, is the latest thing in the picture that motivates people,” said Vaughan.Although it’s too early to know just how effective vaccines are against omicron, Vaughan said early data is promising.”We know that there are people who have been fully vaccinated… showing up with omicron, thankfully, just like all the people with omicron, with mild symptoms,” Vaughan explained.Doctors expect to see COVID-19 case numbers go up after the holidays because omicron may spread more easily.What he and other health experts will keep a close eye on is how many of those cases result in hospitalizations or deaths.
There’s a glimmer of optimism shared by health experts as they keep a close eye on the rise of COVID-19 cases that result from the omicron variant.
Although the variant’s transmissibility rate appears to be high, doctors think omicron may not lead to as many deaths as the delta variant.
“As of yet, we have not seen it behaving badly,” said Dr. Mark Vaughan of Auburn Medical Group. “At least compared to the delta variant.”
Vaughan said, as of right now, there are no reported deaths of people known to have been infected with the omicron variant.
“We were actually really concerned/distracted by the possibility of it being a more deadly variant and never really thought in terms of well it could go just as easily go the other way,” Vaughan said.
That other way being, people end up with more mild symptoms if they get an omicron case of COVID-19 vs. one that results from the delta variant.
“If you think about it, any living organism or virus… the way that it exists in the future is by spreading and multiplying so there’s more copies of it out there,” explained Vaughan.
Getting more copies out there could be as efficiently done by the virus as “going easier” on the people with it.
It may be, in that sense, a better virus in that it is more likely to spread because it doesn’t kill its host right away.
With omicron in the mix, the White House talked about vaccination efforts this week – touting Wednesday’s highest single-day total of vaccines administered since May with 2.2 million COVID-19 shots going into the arms of Americans.
Vaughan said people seeking boosters or protection at holiday gatherings, newly-eligible kids are contributing to vaccine totals, as is the new variant.
“Omicron, of course, is the latest thing in the picture that motivates people,” said Vaughan.
Although it’s too early to know just how effective vaccines are against omicron, Vaughan said early data is promising.
“We know that there are people who have been fully vaccinated… showing up with omicron, thankfully, just like all the people with omicron, with mild symptoms,” Vaughan explained.
Doctors expect to see COVID-19 case numbers go up after the holidays because omicron may spread more easily.
What he and other health experts will keep a close eye on is how many of those cases result in hospitalizations or deaths.