OMICRON VARIANT &

ITS INFLUENCES
NAME: DEEP SHANKAR DAS
ROLL NO: 655
CU ROLL NO: 201235-21-0388
CU REGD NO: 235-1112-0662-20
 INTRODUCTION
• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several coronavirus
variants have emerged as the virus, SARS-CoV-2, continues
to mutate and evolve. Many of these variants’ mutations have
little or no impact on how the virus affects humans. But
others, such as the genetic changes in the delta variant, can
make the coronavirus more transmissible contagious) than the
original version of SARS-CoV-2 that was discovered in late
2019.
• In November 2021, a variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
emerged, and was named “omicron” by the World Health
Organization (WHO). WHO currently lists the omicron as a
variant of concern. Stuart Ray, M.D., vice chair of medicine
for data integrity and analytics, and Robert Bollinger, M.D.,
M.P.H., Raj and Kamla Gupta Professor of Infectious
Diseases, are experts in SARS-CoV-2, and they address your
questions about the omicron coronavirus variant.
Omicron variant and other major or previous variants of concern of
SARS-CoV-2 depicted in a tree scaled radially by genetic distance,
derived from Nextstrain on 1 December 2021

The variant has an unusually large number of mutations, several of

which are novel[4][5] (see § Mutations) and a significant number of
which affect the spike protein targeted by most COVID-19 vaccines
at the time of the discovery of the Omicron variant. This level of
variation has led to concerns regarding its transmissibility, immune
system evasion, and vaccine resistance. However, a growing body
of evidence indicates the Omicron variant is less virulent than
previous strains, especially compared to the Delta variant.[6][7] The
variant was quickly designated as being "of concern", and travel
restrictions were introduced by several countries in an attempt to
slow its international spread.
 SEVERITY OF DISEASE
• It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes
more severe disease compared to infections with other
variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that
there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South
Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall
numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a
result of specific infection with Omicron. There is
currently no information to suggest that symptoms
associated with Omicron are different from those from
other variants. Initial reported infections were among
university students—younger individuals who tend to
have more mild disease—but understanding the level of
severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several
weeks. All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta
variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe
disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable
people, and thus prevention is always key.
 OMICRON DESIGNATED A VARIANT
OF CONCERN (VOC) BY WHO
• On 26 November WHO designated B.1.1.529 a
variant of concern (VOC) because of
preliminary evidence of a detrimental change in
COVID-19 epidemiology. As a VOC, it was
named Omicron.
• Omicron has a large number of mutations
including more than 30 genetic mutations of the
spike protein.
• Some mutations have previously been
associated with increasing transmissibility and
making it easier for the virus to bind and attach
to cells
 EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIOR SARS-
COV-2 INFECTION
• Effectiveness of vaccines: WHO is working with technical partners to understand the potential
impact of this variant on our existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain
critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant,
Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death.
• Effectiveness of current tests: The widely used PCR tests continue to detect infection,
including infection with Omicron, as we have seen with other variants as well. Studies are
ongoing to determine whether there is any impact on other types of tests, including rapid
antigen detection tests.
• Effectiveness of current treatments: Corticosteroids and IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be
effective for managing patients with severe COVID-19. Other treatments will be assessed to
see if they are still as effective given the changes to parts of the virus in the Omicron variant.
 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR
PEOPLES
• The best way to stay safe from COVID-19 — the omicron variant included — is to be aware of
your surroundings and community spread in your area, as well as exercise the COVID-19
precautions that we know work, including:
• Getting fully vaccinated
• Getting your COVID-19 booster once eligible and
• Wearing a mask and
• Social distancing in indoor public spaces and
• Avoiding indoor crowds and
• Washing your hands and avoiding touching your face
• Even if you’re vaccinated and boosted, you should still be wearing a mask in public or around
vulnerable loved ones and avoiding crowds right now.
 STUDIES UNDERWAY
• At the present time, WHO is coordinating with a large number
of researchers around the world to better understand Omicron.
Studies currently underway or underway shortly include
assessments of transmissibility, severity of infection (including
symptoms), performance of vaccines and diagnostic tests, and
effectiveness of treatments.
• WHO encourages countries to contribute the collection and
sharing of hospitalized patient data through the WHO COVID-
19 Clinical Data Platform to rapidly describe clinical
characteristics and patient outcomes.
• More information will emerge in the coming days and weeks.
WHO’s TAG-VE will continue to monitor and evaluate the data
as it becomes available and assess how mutations in Omicron
alter the behaviour of the virus.
 EMERGENCE OF OMICRON
• CDC has been using genomic surveillance throughout the course of the pandemic to track
variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and inform public health
practice.

• November 24, 2021: A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was reported to the World
Health Organization (WHO). This new variant was first detected in specimens collected on
November 11, 2021 in Botswana and on November 14, 2021 in South Africa.
• November 26, 2021: WHO named the B.1.1.529 Omicron and classified it as a Variant of
Concern (VOC).
• November 30, 2021: The United States designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern.
• December 1, 2021: The first confirmed U.S. case of Omicron was identified.
 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR
COUNTRIES
• As Omicron has been designated a Variant of Concern, there are several actions WHO
recommends countries to undertake, including enhancing surveillance and sequencing of
cases; sharing genome sequences on publicly available databases, such as GISAID;
reporting initial cases or clusters to WHO; performing field investigations and laboratory
assessments to better understand if Omicron has different transmission or disease
characteristics, or impacts effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics or public
health and social measures.
• Countries should continue to implement the effective public health measures to reduce
COVID-19 circulation overall, using a risk analysis and science-based approach. They
should increase some public health and medical capacities to manage an increase in cases.
WHO is providing countries with support and guidance for both readiness and response.
THANK YOU