Panic over omicron has increased around the world as it is spreading faster than other variants of the corona. Moreover, omicron has the ability to infect many people quickly in less time. However, compared to the previous deadly variant Delta, the symptoms of omicron are much milder. Scientists have already begun extensive research into this variant identified in South Africa, which is now available all over the world. However, the researchers have already found out the omicron symptoms. Let's get to know the omicron symptoms and how this variant is different from the delta variant. Symptoms of Omicron Mild to moderate symptoms are observed in those affected by omicron. Further, the death and hospitalization rates are also somewhat lower. But even then, medical experts are reluctant to take it lightly. Because, through such, the corona is sustaining its existence. Can it be said for sure that it will not emerge as a terrifying new variant at any time? Read Hope seen once omicron wave increases global immunity, even as new version of variant found Omicron is quite different from the original types of the corona. It was first found in South Africa last November. After that, it spread rapidly in many countries of the world. A recent study found that omicron inherited some genetic traits from the common cold virus outside its genus. Although the virus is not deadly, everyone should be aware of the symptoms. Tiredness Similar to previous variants, omicron can cause fatigue or extreme fatigue. A person may experience excessive fatigue, lack of energy, and a strong desire to rest, which can disrupt his daily activities. However, it should be kept in mind that not only because of covid but also other causes and health problems can make anyone feel tired. That is why it is necessary to do the covid test to be sure of your physical condition. Read How to Improve Your Central Nervous System? Sore Throat People infected with omicrons are experiencing sore throats, which is unusual. The former variant is associated with pain in the throat and full body. Mild Fever, Goes Away on its Own Mild to moderate fever has been one of the symptoms of covid since the onset of the novel coronavirus. But although the previous strain fever had a long-term effect on patients, omicron brings a lighter temperature to the body then goes away on its own. Sweating and Body Aches at Night Night sweats can be one of the symptoms of the Omicron variant. As per the reports, the patient may feel sweaty at night even if the person sleeps in a cool place. The clothes and bed will get wet too. According to doctors, this can be accompanied by other symptoms, including 'severe body aches.' Read Taking Omicron lightly may cause great damage, warns Health Minister Cough Omicron patients may also experience dry cough, which was also the most common symptom of previous other  strains. Congestion or Runny Nose During the recent omicron wave, it was noticed that a runny nose or congestion in the nose was a commonly reported symptom. However, the flu season is also going on, so it is difficult to say if a runny nose or congestion is a definitive omicron symptom. But, it can be one of the symptoms. Hence, it is advised to do the covid test if you have such problems. How is Omicron Different from Delta? Although both Omicron and delta are covid-19 variants, they are different from each other. According to experts, fatigue, joint pain, chills, and headaches are the four symptoms of omicron that differ from Delta. Furthermore, losing taste and odor, one of the symptoms of Delta, is occasionally found in the case of COVID variant omicron. Read 5 more Omicron cases detected in Bangladesh Omicron may not have the same difficulty as Delta, but this can infect the lungs. Unlike Delta, omicron may cause less damage to the lungs. Omicron is highly transmissible and has already broken the record for daily infection rates. Although it is not deadly, the infection rates are exponentially increasing compared to Delta. Another thing is that Omicron sufferers rarely lost their taste buds, while it was common for Delta. Even in this variant, the oxygen level in the corona patient's blood does not drop suddenly. Read Omicron replacing Delta through community transmission: DGHS There are differences in the incubation period too. A small study by the Centers for Disease Control has found that the incubation period for omicron is 3 days while it is 4 days for Delta. How Long Does It Take for the Omicron Symptoms to Appear? Imagine Covid entering your body today. However, the symptoms will not appear right away. It will then take possession of one cell at a time and begin to replicate itself. After a while, if the body's immune system loses to this disease, the symptoms will appear.  The question is, how long is this time? Experts have found that in the case of the previous variants, the symptoms appeared within 5 to 6 days after the virus entered. In some cases, the symptoms appeared within 14 days.  Read Grocery Shopping Hacks: Proven tips to choose best foods at grocery stores However, in the case of omicron, the symptoms appear within 2 to 10 days. Hence, the omicron symptoms show up faster than any other corona variants. What to do If you have omicron Symptoms? If you think you have omicron symptoms, isolate yourself first and consult a doctor immediately. Do the covid test and follow the Covid rules. The mask must be worn maintaining all the rules. Wash your both hands properly using sanitizer or soap for at least 20 seconds. Read New Zealand adds new COVID restrictions as omicron spreads How to Prevent Covid-19 Variant Omicron? To prevent omicron, one should follow the regular covid-19 protocols. For example, maintaining one meter physical distance, wearing a good quality mask, keeping the windows open for proper ventilation, avoiding the crowded place, using tissues in the case of cough or sneeze, and keeping hands clean. Final Words Omicron is considered less deadly than the delta variant. But in terms of infection, it has surpassed the Delta as well. Omicron is now the most influential type of coronavirus all over the world. So, knowing the symptoms will help us to stay alert about omicron. Read Panic Attacks: Symptoms, Causes, Remedies, and Treatment

The Omicron strain of Coronavirus is gradually replacing the Delta variant through community transmission in Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). DGHS spokesperson Dr Md Nazmul Islam said this at the daily briefing on Covid-19 on Sunday. Nazmul Islam said the Omicron variant is spreading at the community level and its symptoms have similarities with that of seasonal flu. Read:Bangladesh reports 17 more deaths as Covid getting deadlier About 73% of Omicron patients have runny noses while 68% have headaches, 64% have fatigue and 7% percent of patients sneeze, he added. Besides, 7% percent of patients have sore throat and 40% have coughing. “These’re the things we need to keep in mind.” He further said that everyone should consult a doctor in any case. Dr Nazmul also warned, “If we continue to defy the hygiene rules, then the number of patients will increase further, which will put additional pressure on healthcare systems as a whole.” The DGHS spokesperson said the Covid infection began to increase in Bangladesh from the end of December. As of January 22, the positivity rate rose to over 28 per cent which was 17.82 per cent on January 16, the beginning of the week. Read: Hospitals in Dhaka overwhelmed with Covid patients: Minister The number of patients in hospitals is growing, the official said, adding that this uptrend has been noticed since the end of last year till the beginning of this year. “If we want to overcome this pandemic, we must follow the health protocols,” the official advised.

As the ‘super mutant’ Omicron strain of Covid-19 is spreading fast in many countries displacing the previously dominant Delta variant, experts warned that Bangladesh is all but certain to see a fresh wave of the deadly virus. They also cautioned that the Omicron may take a heavy toll on over 8 crore unvaccinated people, mainly the kids and elderly people, if there is an outbreak of the Covid variant in the country amid people’s serious apathy to wear masks outside and maintain health safety rules. Since Omicron is three times more transmissible than the Delta, the analysts advised the government to tighten the enforcement machinery to force people to follow all Covid-safety protocols alongside properly screening the incoming passengers through air and land ports and ensuring their quarantine. They think all the incoming passengers coming from the Omicron-hit countries should be kept in institutional quarantine to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Covid variant. Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, ex VC of BSMMU, Prof Dr Mushtuq Hussain, IEDCR’s consultant, and Prof Dr Bijon Kumar Sil, head of Gono Bishwabidyalay’s Microbiology department, made the observations while talking to UNB. Health Minister Zahid Maleque also voiced concern that the Covid infection may spike in the country since most people do not wear masks and follow hygiene rules. The country has been witnessing a steady rise in Covid cases for the last few days and the two first Omicron cases were reported here on December 11. Read: Bangladesh bracing for third Covid wave? Possible fresh wave Noted Virologist Professor Dr Nazrul Islam said two people in the country have already been identified with Omicron variant. “So, its wave may come to Bangladesh, and we’ve to be very careful about those who are coming from abroad.” He said the Covid infection has started increasing again and it may continue to grow slowly till February next. “The country is likely to face a fresh wave in March with the rise in temperature. The number of cases will go up alarmingly in the middle of that month.” The expert said usually Covid infections remain low during winter due to the intervention of many other respiratory viruses and flus like influenza. Prof Mushtaq Hussain said Bangladesh is at a high risk of witnessing a wave of Omicron in the days to come like the African and European countries.  “Omicron is already in the community transmission stage in some African and European countries. So, there’s no reason to think that Bangladesh would not experience an outbreak of Omicron,” he said. Though there is no fresh case of Omicron after two imported ones in the country, he said the infection rate may continue to surge after a few days. “After the coronavirus infection was detected in Wuhan, China, and Delta strain in India, many people thought that it would not come to Bangladesh. But they were proved wrong. So, we fear a community transmission of Omicron in Bangladesh.” Noted microbiologist Bijon Kumar Sil said Omicron will gradually spread to different areas of the country after deepening its roots. He said Omicron has spread to over 100 countries within a month, showing its highly contagious nature. “So, I don’t think we’ll get rid of this virus. There may be some unidentified people in our country that is why the infection rate is now showing an uptrend.”

As the omicron variant sweeps through South Africa, Dr. Unben Pillay is seeing dozens of sick patients a day. Yet he hasn’t had to send anyone to the hospital. That’s one of the reasons why he, along with other doctors and medical experts, suspect that the omicron version really is causing milder COVID-19 than delta, even if it seems to be spreading faster. “They are able to manage the disease at home,” Pillay said of his patients. “Most have recovered within the 10 to 14-day isolation period.” said Pillay. And that includes older patients and those with health problems that can make them more vulnerable to becoming severely ill from a coronavirus infection, he said. In the two weeks since omicron first was reported in Southern Africa, other doctors have shared similar stories. All caution that it will take many more weeks to collect enough data to be sure, their observations and the early evidence offer some clues. According to South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases: — Only about 30% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 in recent weeks have been seriously ill, less than half the rate as during the first weeks of previous pandemic waves. — Average hospital stays for COVID-19 have been shorter this time - about 2.8 days compared to eight days. — Just 3% of patients hospitalized recently with COVID-19 have died, versus about 20% in the country’s earlier outbreaks. “At the moment, virtually everything points toward it being milder disease,” Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute, said, citing the national institute’s figures and other reports. “It’s early days, and we need to get the final data. Often hospitalizations and deaths happen later, and we are only two weeks into this wave.” In the meantime, scientists around the world are watching case counts and hospitalization rates, while testing to see how well current vaccines and treatments hold up. While delta is still the dominant coronavirus strain worldwide, omicron cases are popping up in dozens of countries, with South Africa the epicenter. Pillay practices in the country’s Gauteng province, where the omicron version has taken hold. With 16 million residents, It’s South Africa’s most populous province and includes the largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria. Gauteng saw a 400% rise in new cases in the first week of December, and testing shows omicron is responsible for more than 90% of them, according to health officials. Pillay says his COVID-19 patients during the last delta wave “had trouble breathing and lower oxygen levels. Many needed hospitalization within days,” he said. The patients he’s treating now have milder, flu-like symptoms, such as body aches and a cough, he said. Pillay is a director of an association representing some 5,000 general practitioners across South Africa, and his colleagues have documented similar observations about omicron. Netcare, the largest private healthcare provider, is also reporting less severe cases of COVID-19. But the number of cases is climbing. South Africa confirmed 22,400 new cases on Thursday and 19,000 on Friday, up from about 200 per day a few weeks ago. The new surge has infected 90,000 people in the past month, Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said Friday. Also read: Omicron v. delta: Battle of coronavirus mutants is critical “Omicron has driven the resurgence,” Phaahla said, citing studies that say 70% of the new cases nationwide are from omicron. The coronavirus reproduction rate in the current wave - indicating the number of people likely to be infected by one person — is 2.5, the highest that South Africa has recorded during the pandemic, he said. “Because this is such a transmissible variant, we’re seeing increases like we never saw before,” said Waasila Jassat, who tracks hospital data for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Of the patients hospitalized in the current wave, 86% weren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus, Jassat said. The COVID-patients in South Africa’s hospitals now also are younger than at other periods of the pandemic: about two-thirds are under 40. Also read: Omicron not ‘less dangerous’; it’s matter of time for Bangladesh to get a case: Experts Jassat said that even though the early signs are that omicron cases are less severe, the volume of new COVID-19 cases may still overwhelm South Africa’s hospitals and result in a higher number of severe symptoms and deaths. “That is the danger always with the waves,” she said.

As the omicron coronavirus variant spreads in southern Africa and pops up in countries all around the world, scientists are anxiously watching a battle play out that could determine the future of the pandemic. Can the latest competitor to the world-dominating delta overthrow it? Some scientists, poring over data from South Africa and the United Kingdom, suggest omicron could emerge the victor. “It’s still early days, but increasingly, data is starting to trickle in, suggesting that omicron is likely to outcompete delta in many, if not all, places,” said Dr. Jacob Lemieux, who monitors variants for a research collaboration led by Harvard Medical School. But others said Monday it’s too soon to know how likely it is that omicron will spread more efficiently than delta, or, if it does, how fast it might take over. Also read: More omicron detected as US hospitals strain under delta surge “Especially here in the U.S., where we’re seeing significant surges in delta, whether omicron’s going to replace it I think we’ll know in about two weeks,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Many critical questions about omicron remain unanswered, including whether the virus causes milder or more severe illness and how much it might evade immunity from past COVID-19 illness or vaccines. On the issue of spread, scientists point to what’s happening in South Africa, where omicron was first detected. Omicron’s speed in infecting people and achieving near dominance in South Africa has health experts worried that the country is at the start of a new wave that may come to overwhelm hospitals. The new variant rapidly moved South Africa from a period of low transmission, averaging less than 200 new cases per day in mid-November, to more than 16,000 per day over the weekend. Omicron accounts for more than 90% of the new cases in Gauteng province, the epicenter of the new wave, according to experts. The new variant is rapidly spreading and achieving dominance in South Africa’s eight other provinces. “The virus is spreading extraordinarily fast,” said Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute. “If you look at the slopes of this wave that we’re in at the moment, it’s a much steeper slope than the first three waves that South Africa experienced. This indicates that it’s spreading fast and it may therefore be a very transmissible virus.” But Hanekom, who is also co-chair the South African COVID-19 Variants Research Consortium, said South Africa had such low numbers of delta cases when omicron emerged, “I don’t think we can say” it out-competed delta. Also read: How can I protect myself from the new omicron variant? Scientists say it’s unclear whether omicron will behave the same way in other countries as it has in South Africa. Lemieux said there are already some hints about how it may behave; in places like the United Kingdom, which does a lot of genomic sequencing, he said, “we’re seeing what appears to be a signal of exponential increase of omicron over delta.” In the United States, as in the rest of the world, “there’s still a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “But when you put the early data together, you start to see a consistent picture emerge: that omicron is already here, and based on what we’ve observed in South Africa, it’s likely to become the dominant strain in the coming weeks and months and will likely cause a surge in case numbers.” What that could mean for public health remains to be seen. Hanekom said early data from South Africa shows that reinfection rates are much higher with omicron than previous variants, suggesting the virus is escaping immunity somewhat. It also shows the virus seems to be infecting younger people, mostly those who are unvaccinated, and most cases in hospitals have been relatively mild. But Binnicker said things could play out differently in other parts of the world or in different groups of patients. “It’ll be really interesting to see what happens when more infections potentially occur in older adults or those with underlying health conditions,” he said. “What’s the outcome in those patients?” As the world waits for answers, scientists suggest people do all they can to protect themselves. “We want to make sure that people have as much immunity from vaccination as possible. So if people are not vaccinated they should get vaccinated,” Lemieux said. “If people are eligible for boosters, they should get boosters, and then do all the other things that we know are effective for reducing transmission -- masking and social distancing and avoiding large indoor gatherings, particularly without masks.”

Measures used to counter the delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the coronavirus pandemic, even in the face of the new omicron version of the virus, World Health Organization officials said Friday, while acknowledging that the travel restrictions imposed by some countries may buy time. While about three dozen countries worldwide have reported omicron infections, including India on Thursday, the numbers so far are small outside of South Africa, which is facing a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and where the new variant may be becoming dominant. Still, much remains unclear about omicron, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, or whether it can evade vaccine protection. “Border control can delay the virus coming in and buy time. But every country and every community must prepare for new surges in cases,” Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, told reporters Friday during a virtual news conference from the Philippines. “The positive news in all of this is that none of the information we have currently about omicron suggests we need to change the directions of our response.” That means continuing to push for higher vaccination rates, abiding by social-distancing guidelines, and wearing masks, among other measures, said WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr. Babatunde Olowokure. Read:India reports first two Covid cases of Omicron variant He added that health systems must “ensure we are treating the right patients in the right place at the right time, and so therefore ensuring that ICU beds are available, particularly for those who need them.” Kasai warned: “We cannot be complacent.” WHO has previously urged against border closures, noting they often have limited effect and can cause major disruptions. Officials in southern Africa, where the omicron variant was first identified, have decried restrictions on travelers from the region, saying they are being punished for alerting the world to the mutant strain. Scientists are working furiously to learn more about omicron, which has been designated a variant of concern because of the number of mutations and because early information suggests it may be more transmissible than other variants, Kasai said. Read:US reports 1st case of omicron variant in returning traveler A few countries in Western Pacific region are facing surges that began before omicron was identified, though COVID-19 cases and deaths in many others have decreased or plateaued, Kasai said. But that could change. Among the places that have found the variant in the region are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia — and it is likely to crop up in more places. The emergence of omicron is of particular concern for organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, now about two months away. Beijing is adopting a series of measures to reduce the risk the virus will spread during the Games, Zhao Weidong, spokesperson for the organizing committee, told reporters at a briefing on Friday. China has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward COVID-19 transmission and has some of the world’s strictest border controls. Games participants will have to live and compete inside a bubble, and only spectators who are residents of China and have been vaccinated and tested will be permitted at venues. Globally, cases have been increasing for seven consecutive weeks and the number of deaths has started to rise again, too, driven largely by the delta variant and decreased use of protective measures in other parts of the world, Kasai said. “We should not be surprised to see more surges in the future. As long as transmission continues, the virus can continue to mutate, as the emergence of omicron demonstrates, reminding us of the need to stay vigilant,” Kasai said. He warned especially about the likelihood of surges due to more gatherings and movement of people during the holiday season. The northern winter season will also likely bring other infectious respiratory diseases, such as the flu, alongside COVID-19. “It is clear that this pandemic is far from over and I know that people are worried about omicron,” Kasai said. “But my message today is that we can adapt the way we manage this virus to better cope with the future surges and reduce their health, social and economic impacts.”

Delta, the Coronavirus variant first found in India, turned out to be 80% of some 50 genomes sequenced in Bangladesh since May 16 by IEDCR. There is also evidence of community transmission of the variant, according to research jointly carried out by IEDCR and IDSHI. The study also identified one "unknown variant" and found 8 of the samples  (16%) to be infected with the South African variant. IEDCR and IDSHI collected and analysed 50 samples from across the country, including border districts and the capital since May 16. The research also found 40 out of the total 50 cases as Delta variant, known as Indian variant, in samples collected from Chapainawabganj, Gopalganj, Khulna, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Bagerhat, Jhenaidah and Pirojpur. Also read: Indian Variant: The New Concern Also, among the 40 patients, eight were tested positive after returning from India while 18 others came in contact with overseas returnees although they did not travel abroad. Meanwhile, among the samples collected, 14 infected people neither went abroad nor came in contact with people with travel history. So, it is clear that the Indian variant is being transmitted at the community level inside the country, the research said. On May 8, the Indian variant was detected in Bangladesh for the first time. All of the infected people returned from the neighbouring country. The "highly contagious" Indian Delta variant was first detected in October last year. The World Health Organization labelled it a "variant of concern."  Also read: 8 Indian variant cases identified in Jashore