What?
Omicron is the latest COVID variant to hit the news. Viruses mutate very quickly to form new ‘variants’, and as a result there are thousands of COVID variants. However, a small number of ‘variants of concern’ are specifically named by the World Health Organization (currently, letters of the Greek alphabet), like the Alpha and Delta variants. Sometimes they become serious health concerns, and sometimes they drop off and we never hear of them again.
Omicron is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, meaning that we’ve nearly run out of letters for new variants. The WHO may start naming them after constellations in the future – you heard it here first!
Why?
The WHO stopped naming variants after countries as it started to unfairly stigmatise the nations that discovered them. The Greek alphabet was a neutral alternative.
They missed out Nu because it sounds too close to new, and they missed out Xi because many Chinese people, including the president of China, share this name.
We are hearing about Omicron because it is a variant of concern, i.e. it has the potential to spread quicker, and cause more harm.
How (does it affect you)?
Not all variants of concern are worse than the one before. The Omicron variant might spread more quickly, and might be more deadly.
However, governments are taking the threat seriously, with a wave of new restrictions being enacted internationally.
In the UK here are the new rules:
- All travellers entering the UK need a PCR tests within 48 hours of arriving in the UK and must self-isolate until they receive a negative result
- Face coverings are required by law in shops and on public transport, and strongly advised in schools, colleges and universities
- Self-isolation is required for 10 days if infected or in contact with the Omicron variant – even if fully vaccinated.
But REALLY, how will it actually affect me…?
No-one knows… yet. At the time of writing, there is no clear indication that Omicron is spread easier or more deadly, vaccine manufacturers say their vaccines will still prevent most people getting serious disease, and, other variants of concern have all of a sudden become variants of no concern.
Ultimately, restrictions will continue due to the government’s decision to regard the threat as serious, and that will mean ongoing delays in GP and hospital treatment. Time will tell whether Omicron is a real concern or not…
As always, best wishes from myHSN.
*myHSN does not replace medical advice of your healthcare provider, and as always, if you are unwell or need medical attention, please dial 111.
