Is Omicron less severe than Delta? 

The raging Omicron variant appears to be causing less severe illness than the deadly delta variant as per the early studies globally, but there is nothing to be complacent, warns health experts.

They said all indications point to a lesser severity of the new strain of virus; despite the fact, it can overwhelm the entire healthcare system.

The Business Post tried to draw a pen picture of Omicron variant by talking to a number of individuals that went through Delta and Omicron ordeals, health experts and virologists.

A private company employee Shahin Chowdhury (Not his real name) got infected by Coronavirus last year during the wave of Delta. At that time he lost his taste and smell, and had high fever, cough and body ache. However, there was no shortness of breath. Afterwards, he came round.

A few days ago he had cough, fever and sore throat again, but he did not feel any other symptoms of corona that he experienced before. He thought it was a normal fever.

But due to his office policy, Shahin had test and was reported positive. Now he is receiving treatment at home and not feeling any other problems.

Amid such a situation, there is a growing concern among people what the symptoms of Omicron variant are. They are panicky whenever they are catching common cold, cough and fever.

In the early stages of corona, people developed symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, high fever, whooping cough, body aches, headache, shortness of breath and decreased oxygen level.

But over time scientists discovered the Delta variant that had identical symptoms with those at the beginning of coronavirus. However, taste and smell, shortness of breath, decrease in oxygen level are not seen in most Omicron cases. Yet, it has been spreading quickly.

Health specialists say although the rate of infection with Omicron is high, the risk of death is still low. Again some patients have recovered without being admitted to hospital. However, an overall view has yet to be established.

IEDCR Chief Scientific Officer Dr ASM Alamgir told The Business Post people who suffered from Covid-19 reported a wide range of symptoms—mild to severe—some most common symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever, headache and fatigue.

There are reports that Covid patients cannot taste or smell. Symptoms in Omicron are also similar to Delta variants. In many cases, taste and smell are not lost.

The health official said Omicron also spreads asymptomatic, and is 3 to 5 times more contagious than delta.

Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, a renowned virologist and former vice-chancellor of BSMMU, told The Business Post the delta variant produces severe disease. However, Omicron is not like that but it spreads fast.

The taste and smell go away during delta and there is also shortness of breath whereas this is not the case with Omicron, he said.

Mentioning that there is nothing to panic about Omicron; the experts said if general people are infected with the new strain of virus, nothing much will happen, but the elderly and the diabetics should be careful.

Vaccination and following hygiene rules can keep the Covid-19 at bay, they opined.

As of Monday, 30 corona patients infected by Omicron variants had been identified in the country, according to the Germany-based organisation Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).

Earlier on January 6, 10 more cases were detected in the country. On December 11, two female cricketers of the national women’s cricket team were the first to be infected with the Omicron variant.

On the other hand, on Tuesday, two people died of Covid-19 in the country and 2,458 people tested positive. The detection rate has risen to 8.97 per cent. Corona has so far killed 28,107 people, according to the
DGHS.

Due to the recent rise in infection, various measures have been taken by the government like issuing 11-point guidelines to prevent the corona epidemic.

As per the instructions, public must wear a mask when going outside; mobile courts will be set up across the country to ensure hygiene; everyone must show vaccination certificate to sit in hotels and restaurants.

The 11 points must be complied with from January 13 till further notice.