Time and again, coronavirus variants have emerged and wreaked more havoc than expected. While COVID's Delta variant was one of the sole reasons behind the second wave in India, it is believed that the new and the latest strain, Omicron, may drive a possible 3rd wave in the country. The rising number of COVID-19 cases is evidence enough to prove the same.
Both Delta and the Omicron are 'variants of concern'. Comparatively, however, the former is more severe than the latter. Up until now, experts and doctors have found that the new COVID variant causes mild symptoms, which was not the case with the Delta.
Having said that, with many testing positive for the SARs-COV-2 virus, there is an increasing curiosity among people to know whether what they have is an Omicron infection or the Delta.
since the onset of the Omicron variant, scientists have been closely monitoring the new strain. Apart from the heavy mutations in the variant's spike protein, doctors have also found some changes in the symptoms.
Initially, when the Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of the South African said that the disease was mild and infected people did not report any severe symptoms. As per Dr. Coetzee, individuals infected with the Omicron complained of "scratchy" throat and mild body temperature that gets better on its own.
Comparing the Omicron variant with the Delta, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru says that the effects of COVID-19 variants may differ from person to person.
"Some reports suggest that people with Omicron are less likely to lose their sense of smell, which has been noticed with other variants. Delta may result in more severe symptoms if critical whereas Omicron so far has milder symptoms and typically the lung involvement is lesser and patients do not require oxygen," he elaborates.
When it comes to COVID-19, both antigen and molecular tests help identify the presence of the SARs-COV-2 virus in the body, irrespective of which variant you have. While a molecular test, also known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction testing takes more time to provide the results, a rapid antigen test reveals the COVID status in a very short period.
Currently, RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests are used to determine if a person is COVID positive or negative, says, However, to check if it is the Omicron variant then gene sequencing is the step ahead, he adds.
That said, to confirm whether a suspected case is Omicron requires a full genetic analysis, which can take between four and five days. With the help of the genetic material provided through testing, scientists can confirm if someone is infected with the Omicron or the Delta.
Adding further, the doctor suggests that Omicron may not cause as it largely multiplies in the throat. However, he believes that it will take more research and a deeper difference in the symptoms.
“The Omicron variant transmits more, and escapes immunity built naturally and through vaccines more," he says.
In another French study, published on the medRxiv site, it was found that COVID's Omicron variant maybe 105% more transmissible than Delta.
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