How to Prevent Omicron: Effective Strategies

The rapid spread of Omicron in countries like South Africa, Denmark, United Kingdom and now in India, it’s unlikely that anything short of taking major immediate health measures will halt the growth of Omicron.

Omicron does not appear to be a variant that can be stopped by reducing capacity in high-risk environments like bars, gyms, and stadiums. 

Whether you catch it, is a separate story, but it’s spreading so fast that unless you are working  from home and get your groceries through contactless delivery, you are highly likely to come across someone with Omicron at some point in the next few days. So it’s better to keep your guards up now than to regret later.

What do we know about Omicron now? 

So what do we exactly know about the virus? Understanding Omicron should be our very first step towards the fight against it. As it’s fairly new and we can’t say much about it until the scientists research it more but we have enough data to suggest how it basically works.

Omicron is widespread in the world. It has been found in other countries aside from Africa, mainly in Europe, and now it is spreading like forest fire in India. So one thing we know about Omicron is that it multiplies very fast and that’s why it is highly infectious and contagious. In India also, we can see the rise in daily cases of Omicron is constantly increasing.

This new variant has quite a lot of mutations relative to the original virus, Viruses always mutate and ‘test’ if each mutation gives them some advantage. If so, that mutation will survive at the expense of the others.

Omicron has more than 50 variants that make it different from the original virus, including more than 30 that are in the spike protein. Omicron’s mutations may affect different aspects of the virus – it may multiply faster or survive under harsher conditions.

More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants. But until now we’ve seen and talked to people with omicron who say, “ No, Omicron is not mild”.

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.

What are the precautions we should take?

It is likely that both COVID-19 and Omicron will spread & it’s already spreading. So taking precautions are more important than ever now. Here, we will be discussing some of the precautions you can take to prevent yourself getting infected.

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or spending time in a public place. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places—elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.

Outside your home, stay at least six feet away from people who don’t live in your household and wear a mask. Remember, some people don’t display symptoms of COVID-19 and may be able to spread the virus.

Everyone should wear a mask or other face covering in public settings, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Masks should completely cover both the nose and mouth. Continue to maintain six feet between you and others even while wearing a mask. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like cell phones, keyboards, doorknobs, groceries & other household items to protect yourself from getting infected. UV Sterilization is also one of the best ways to disinfect your stuff without the use of harmful chemicals.

Here, you can take a look at Arista Vault’s Shuddhi Basket. It is certified to clean & disinfect your stuff within minutes using the UV Sterilization technology which is NABL Certified. You can sanitize your groceries in it without using any harsh chemicals and also your office equipment like your laptop, notebook, diary, etc.

Researchers tested the ability of antibodies to neutralise Omicron among people with vaccination alone, and among vaccinated people who also had had a prior natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. “We included a total of 80 participants — 20 each with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Covishield) and BBV152 (Covaxin) vaccination alone, and 20 each with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine plus natural infection and BBV152 vaccine plus natural infection.

Even if Omicron is spreading, being vaccinated prevents severe disease in 80%-90% of the people, Dr Garg said. “Boosting may be required in a sub group of people.

On that note, let’s wrap up this session. Stay Home Stay Safe.

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has raised significant concerns globally, so it’s crucial to understand how to prevent Omicron to protect yourself and your loved ones. This comprehensive guide will delve into effective steps and strategies to minimize your risk of contracting this variant and offer solutions to bolster your defense.

One of the first lines of defense against Omicron is vaccination. Vaccines have shown a strong efficacy in preventing severe illness caused by COVID-19 variants. Therefore, getting fully vaccinated, including booster doses, is essential. Vaccination not only helps prevent Omicron but also reduces the spread of the virus within the community. In addition to vaccines, consider continuing to use masks, especially in crowded or indoor settings where the transmission risk is higher. Masks act as a physical barrier that can block respiratory droplets carrying the virus.

Another important aspect is maintaining proper hygiene. This includes frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Keeping your hands clean reduces the chance of transferring the virus from surfaces to your face, where it can enter the body. Coupled with this, practicing social distancing remains a key measure. Keeping at least a six-foot distance from others, particularly in poorly ventilated areas, can significantly lower the risk of airborne transmission.

Ventilation also plays a crucial role. Ensure that indoor spaces are well-ventilated by opening windows and using fans to circulate air. This can help disperse potentially infectious aerosols and lower the concentration of the virus in the air. In addition, being mindful of symptoms and getting tested if you feel unwell or have been in contact with an infected person can prevent further spread. Quick isolation and seeking medical advice will protect others around you.

Finally, staying informed with reliable information is essential. Misinformation can lead to practices that do not prevent Omicron effectively. Follow guidance from health authorities like the CDC and WHO. They provide up-to-date recommendations based on the latest scientific findings. Being well-informed enables you to make the best decisions for your health and the health of others in your community.