The omicron type of SARS-CoV-2 is causing a worldwide outbreak of infection. According to estimates based on Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) models1, there were 125 million omicron infections per day in the world on around January 17, 2022, which is more than 10 times the peak of the delta wave in April, 2021. 1 The omicron wave is sweeping throughout the globe, with only a few nations in eastern Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania still to see this SARS-CoV-2 type. 1 & 2 Between the end of November 2021 and the end of March 2022, an unprecedented level of infection implies that more than half of the planet will have been infected with omicron. 1 Despite the fact that IHME models suggest that global daily SARS-CoV-2 infections have increased by more than 30 times from the end of November, 2021 to Jan 17, 2022, reported COVID-19 cases in this period have only increased by six times. Because the proportion of cases that are asymptomatic or mild has increased compared with previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, the global infection-detection rate has declined globally from 20% to 5%.The proportion of asymptomatic infections is critical in determining the omicron load. According to a systematic study based on prior SARS-CoV-2 variations, 40% of infections were asymptomatic. 3 Evidence suggests that the fraction of omicron infections that are asymptomatic is substantially higher, possibly as high as 80–90 percent. Garrett and colleagues discovered that 71 (31%) of 230 people in a clinical study in South Africa were PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 and had the omicron form but no symptoms. 4 If this infection prevalence is representative of the community, the inferred incidence vs detected cases shows that more than 90% of infections in South Africa are asymptomatic.
The ultra-contagious omicron mutant is driving up case numbers to all-time highs and wreaking havoc as an exhausted globe fights to contain the spread once more. This time, however, we’re not starting at the beginning.
Vaccines provide excellent protection against major sickness, while they do not always prevent a minor infection. Omicron does not appear to be as lethal as some of its predecessors. Those who survive it will be more protected against other strains of the virus that are currently circulating, as well as the next mutant to arise.
