The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive changes in how things usually work. Lockdowns forced people to stay inside their homes and caused a standstill in the operations of numerous companies across many industries. Vaccine certificates and fit to fly covid tests became a requirement when moving as it helps ensure the safety of the people when doing their tasks.
Although the situation got much better in the past year, recent mutations are causing another surge of COVID infections worldwide. Health experts detected B.1.1.529, commonly called the Omicron, which is more infectious than previous virus variations.
Multiple reports showed that Omicron causes milder symptoms compared to other COVID mutations. Possible Omicron infection indicators include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sneezing. This is why health experts advise people to be more vigilant about getting infected to decrease the possibility of transmission.
However, being infected does not mean that the patients will experience the symptoms immediately. Research conducted by the Centres for Disease Control showed that 35% of the detected COVID patients are asymptomatic. Those with comorbidity are at the highest risk of contracting the virus and suffering from the symptoms.
Omicron can still infect people despite the protection given by being fully vaccinated. This is why despite the high vaccination rate in many countries, Omicron caused an unprecedented surge in infections. Getting a booster shot improves the vaccine’s ability to protect individuals from the variants of COVID-19.
PCR tests and rapid antigen tests are advisable ways to know if a person got infected or not. Antigen tests are cheaper and more convenient between the two and can deliver results in thirty minutes. But PCR tests are more accurate as it undergoes intensive laboratory testing. This is advised especially for those who are looking to travel. Health experts recommend that people immediately isolate once tested positive to reduce the infection rate and decrease the burden on the health facilities during these trying times.
To learn more on how you can know if the Omicron variant infects you, check this article from Harley Medic International.
