Omicron Toolbox is our phrase for a blog to answer some of your burning questions about the Omicron Variant of Covid-19. Thus, we will list the most important facts and notes concerning the Omicron variant in the United States.
Science is constantly creating new tools for defeating the Covid-19 virus and all its variants, specifically Omicron. Thus, please be aware that this article is dated. It includes only information we know as of the middle of January 2022.
First in the Omicron Toolbox: Clear Understanding of What We Know About the Variant
Welcome to the Facts Behind the Newest COVID-19 Variant. Beware of the Fast-Spreading Virus.
We must be aware that the future might reveal new details about the treatment of this and other variants. Plus, science is working quickly to bring us new tools for our Omicron Toolbox.
Whenever the Coronavirus or Covid-19 is mentioned, we feel it is wise to explain. These are the facts as we know them at this time. We make this statement because scientists are revealing new research about the Omicron Variant almost every day. But we are publishing what we know as of now in a viral situation that has constant flux.
What We Know about Omicron
At this point, we know that Omicron spreads much more easily than Delta—and much faster. However, there are two major points that make it much different than our initial pandemic experience and the Delta variant.
Major Point 1: The Good News Tool from the Omicron Toolbox
The good news is that Omicron does not affect the deep elements of the respiratory system, like the lungs. It seems to prefer the upper respiratory tract.
And that is a good thing. This is the medical reason you might have heard some vaccinated victims say their version of Omicron was no worse than a bad cold.
Major Point 2: The First and Biggest Tool in the Omicron Toolbox–Vaccinations and Boosters
Learn How to Fight the Omicron Variant. Yes, Vaccinations Make a Difference.
The CDC has stated that “anyone with the Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.” We know that Omicron causes reinfections as well as breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated and boosted.
In spite of this fact, the key realization here is that if you are vaccinated and boosted, Omicron won’t make you severely ill. Perhaps you will just stay home and take a therapeutic pill. (Does that sound familiar? It reminds us of severe flu and the popular Z pack.)
On the other hand, without the vaccinations or the booster, Omicron could make you much sicker.
Another Tool in the Omicron Toolbox: Knowledge from the Mayo Clinic and Masking Up
Dr. John O’Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist recently gave hope for a New Normal for the post-pandemic era. This week he stated, “As we move into this new normal, what that really will mean is that this becomes an endemic virus like the flu that just circulates around…”
- He explained that coronavirus variants might develop into conditions that grow “worse in certain times of the year in places.”
- And he added such variants would require some of the same measures that we require for the flu, like having regular revaccination.”
The Omicron Toolbox Item Number 3
Dr. O’Horo also predicted that “many of the precautionary measures, such as masking, might be relaxed by health officials in this new normal…” But he added that these measures “could be reinstated in the future if surges in COVID-19 cases occur.”
Therefore, our third tool in the fighters’ Omicron Toolbox is awareness of your community and masking up when needed. We might point out that the type of mask you wear might also increase your protection.
“At the present, we’re still in one of the surges of the pandemic — hopefully one of the last — if not the last — major surge. So, we’re not quite in this new normal phase yet, but we’re getting much closer,” says
Mayo has also stated that “…these surges are going to be shorter and less frequent than we’ve seen in these past two years where it’s really been a pandemic.”
More about Masking Up Against Omicron
The CDC has given us more information about masking up during this variant.
- In the first place, the “CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.”
- Find out more about types of masks and watch out for breaking news due to the difference between this Variant and Delta at the reliable online source linked here. Your Guide to Masks | CDC
More about the Vaccination Tool in the Omicron Toolbox
Continue to be aware that “breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur” with this variant.”
We learned with “other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.”
We cannot afford the first smug assumption that we could ignore vaccinations because we could get sick with Omicron anyway. The CDC states, “the recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.”
Our Fourth Fine Tool Against the Variant: Therapeutics
Perhaps the most powerful tools we recently heard about are the new therapeutics, notably 2 new antiviral pills.
- At the end of December, the Food and Drug Administration recognized 2 new antiviral pills. They are named Paxlovid and Molnupiravir.
- Did you know that doctors can prescribe these within a few days of the diagnosis, for high-risk patients?
- Likewise, we have sotrovimab, made by GSK and Vir. “It is a monoclonal antibody that can attach to the Omicron variant and prevent it from infecting cells.” However, doctors can only administer sotrovimab as an infusion in a hospital or clinic.
Questions about some of the Monoclonal Antibodies
Medical Research is Developing New Therapies For Our Omicron Toolboxes every day.
As you might have heard, two other monoclonal antibodies that do not work on Omicron. It is resistant to the ones created by Regeneron and Eli Lilly. “As Omicron comes to dominate the United States, the federal government is scrambling to secure more doses of sotrovimab.”
Omicron Toolbox For Severe Cases
Two more great tools are helping doctors fight this variant in a hospital setting.
- If you have a severe Covid case, your doctor might prescribe an antiviral drug called remdesivir.
- Likewise, if your doctor puts you in the hospital, he or she might give you a steroid called dexamethasone. It has proven to be very effective at controlling inflammation that can damage the lungs.
Packing Up Your Toolbox Against the Recent Variant
Finally, FLASS hears good sense and optimism from many experts and agrees. Dr. Barocas of the CDC has spoken about positivity in the progress we have made over the last two years. He stated, “I can’t express in words how big my toolbox actually has become, compared to March 2020,” he said.
He added, “I felt helpless” back then. “All I was doing was shuffling deck chairs and trying to keep a boat afloat at the same time.”
Omicron Toolbox: Taking A Little Inventory
Medical Research Continues to Increase Our Ability to Battle COVID-19 Variants.
And Dr. Barocas explained many of the tools we have listed in this article. Additionally, he did not hesitate to use the tools in his explanation. They included:
- “Vaccines and other preventive measures.
- Treatments.
- Growth in public health infrastructure.
- And more access to genomic sequencing are all bright spots.”
We must agree with him. Omicron has given us a “…a vastly different landscape than what we had in March of 2020.”
Thus, we say: Stop the fear. Control the panic. And use your toolbox.”