Thread by @NewsBytesApp

A top South African doctor, who was the first to raise alarm over Omicron, says the new coronavirus strain causes mild symptoms. Dr. Angelique Coetzee stated the variant spreads fast but acknowledged it is still early to draw clear conclusions. #Omicron
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Dr. Coetzee's assessment of the strain indicates that while Omicron may be more transmissible, it causes a milder disease than variants like Delta. If detailed studies corroborate the findings, it could be good news since the COVID-19 pandemic may be becoming endemic.

The most common symptoms among Omicron patients are fatigue, body aches and pains, malaise, and headache, Dr. Coetzee told a media portal. However, unlike the Delta variant, Omicron does not lead to a loss of smell or taste, a severely blocked nose, or high fever, she said.

Dr. Coetzee, also the chair of the South African Medical Association, added that hospital admissions in the country are still low. "For now, we do know that...irrespective of age group and co-morbidities, people who have been vaccinated, have had mild disease," she added.

First detected in South Africa, Omicron is a heavily mutated strain of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Over 370 cases have been detected in 30 nations so far though the actual toll could be higher. The World Health Organization has classified it as a variant of concern. #Omicron

In India, two confirmed Omicron cases were reported from Karnataka. The patients include a 66-year-old South African national who has since left India and a 46-year-old doctor in Bengaluru. The doctor has no international travel history. #OmicronInIndia #COVID19