Omicron Variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: Necessity to Strengthen Public Health and Social Measures

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be one of the global public health emergencies and interrupts the routine lives of humans. Omicron has been identified as the most recent variant of concern by the World Health Organization, and it has been detected first from the samples reported in South Africa. This variant has been found to have genetic changes that can influence the virus attributes (such as transmissibility, the severity of resulting illness, or limitations in terms of diagnosis––the absence of S gene, making it difficult to establish a diagnosis or reduced potency of existing therapeutic drugs) and has the potential to account for significant community transmission. In conclusion, the detection of the omicron variant of COVID-19 definitely calls for attention from international agencies, program managers, public health authorities, and the community. As we continue to get an in-depth understanding of the new variant in the coming days, the need of the hour is to strictly adhere to the public health and social measures at our end.