Omicron: Symptoms to Watch Out For

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently said that the surge of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant has begun.

This is evident in the steadily increasing daily cases in the country. The following are several common symptoms of the highly infectious variant to watch out for:

• Body aches, weakness, fatigue
• Headache
• Cough (sometimes dry)
• Runny nose, sneezing
• The loss of smell and taste have been reported in some cases
• Skin rashes
• Diarrhoea
• In some rare cases, loss of appetite have also been reported

In more severe cases, shortness of breath, loss of speech and mobility, and chest pain have been reported.

Similar to the previous variants, the Omicron strain also reportedly causes milder symptoms in vaccinated people compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.

Fully vaccinated people are also more likely to experience symptoms for a shorter period of time (one or two days), whereas the unvaccinated may experience them for five or more days, reports have said.

As was the case with the previous strains, vaccination is the best way to steer us out of danger, experts have advised.

Since being reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in November last year, Omicron have spread to at least 165 countries and territories worldwide.

It has even spawned an even more infectious sub-variant, which has been reported in 57 countries so far.

Although Omicron symptoms have so far been reported to be milder than the original Wuhan and Delta strains, experts have advised the wearing of face masks, and practising good hygiene, including frequent washing, and observing physical distance, as deterrent steps.


Source: Times of India, livemint.com
Photo source: Berita Harian