Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know
1/14/2022
NATCHEZ, Miss. – January 13, 2022 — Cases of COVID-19 are soaring due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Dr. Lee England, internal medicine and infectious disease specialist on staff at Merit Health Natchez, shares what you need to know about the virus.
Omicron appears to spread more easily than the original COVID virus and the Delta variant. Highly transmissible, Omicron moves quickly from person to person, primarily increasing infections and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated along with some breakthrough cases.
“Vaccination remains the best way to reduce the spread of the virus and protect yourself and others from serious illness,” said Dr. England. “Current COVID-19 vaccines still are very effective in reducing the rate and severity of infection caused the Omicron variant, especially for those who have received the booster.”
Dr. England advises family, friends and patients to get vaccinated or boosted and follow proven practices for reducing the spread of infection: frequent hand-washing, remaining home when you are sick and wearing a mask in crowded spaces. Using a KN95 or surgical mask has been found to be more effective than cloth masks. “Remember each person that had the Delta variant passed the virus on to 7 people on average. Although we do not know the numbers for Omicron, we suspect it will be much greater than 7,” concluded Dr. England.
The CDC recommends COVID-19 booster shots for individuals 12 and older five months after the completion of the initial series. COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are available at no cost from county health departments, local pharmacies and healthcare providers across the state. Visit https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420,976.html to locate vaccine locations or to schedule your vaccine.
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