The Omicron variant is one of many COVID-19 variants that has developed over the course of the pandemic. Omicron was named a variant of concern on November 26, only a week after it was first discovered in South Africa on November 19. But what do we know about this variant, and why was it labeled a variant of Concern?

Mutations occur naturally in all living things as well as viruses. However, the Omicron variant has many mutations from the original strain of COVID-19, many of which are in the spike protein, which affects how antibodies protect us against viruses and other diseases. There is also data that might suggest that the Omicron variant spreads faster than previous variants.

Judy Streit, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa, explained “In South Africa, where the omicron variant was first described, it was noted that the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 caused by Omicron did not rise significantly, suggesting that the severity of illness attributable to the variant may be less than with the original virus type and the Delta variant.  However, most of the people that were diagnosed with Omicron-related COVID-19 in South Africa were young and thus already had a lower risk of severe disease.”

Because most patients in South Africa so far have been young, it is too early to tell how severe the Omicron variant would be in older populations, or how quickly it would spread in the U.S.

“It’s too early to know how Omicron will impact the pandemic. But we know that Omicron has spread very quickly in a number of countries, such as South Africa and the United Kingdom,” said Streit.

Despite the uncertainty around the Omicron variant, Jamie Meares, the school nurse at West High, does not think the ICCSD COVID-19 guidelines will change. 

“As far as we’ve discussed with the Public Health Department, now that the vaccines have been out and available to everybody, especially the ages of 5 and up now, I don’t see [ICCSD policy] changing,” said Mears.

Mears does not believe that the Omicron variant will be much different from the Delta variant or other strains of COVID-19, and hopes that we will be able to return to normal soon. 

“I do think that [COVID-19] will eventually be treated like any viral illness such as influenza, especially now that the vaccine is available for elementary-aged children,” said Mears.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant, it is especially important that you take precautions to keep yourself and others safe, especially over winter break, by wearing a mask when you are indoors and getting vaccinated. 

Manish Suneja, the Vice-Chair of Education in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa, is worried that because the Omicron variant might be less severe, it will spread faster, because people will be less worried about serious symptoms, and will take fewer precautions.

“We should be thinking about other people who are more vulnerable and who are immunocompromised, who had a transplant, who have other comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, obesity. It’s not about you — you should be thinking about other people during the holidays, and be extra safe,” said Suneja.