omicron's impact on the pandemic
by Chaitna Deshmukh and Muriel Moon, Reporters
National News
Omicron has been the most widespread variant we’ve seen up to this point. The rate of growth for the infection is extremely high, suggesting to some that this will be the variant that finally gives enough of the population immunity.
As a result of the last two years of overworking, staff shortages, and untenable conditions, medical staff have been quitting at high rates. Due to Omicron, hospitals were once again full of patients. However, Omicron’s milder symptoms allow for ICUs, or Intensive Care Units, not to be as overwhelmed as they were during the extremely dangerous Delta variant. Yet, the overwhelming infectiousness of this variant, as well as the high numbers of people becoming infected with other upper respiratory infections with return from quarantines and breaks, resulted in a breakdown in test availability.
Due to the generally more mild effects of Omicron, some people have considered purposefully getting infected. Although the effects are mild for most, especially with the vaccine, experts say you should avoid this purposefully contracting COVID-19. There is the probability that the infection would become severe and a trip to the hospital is not a risk worth taking for immunity— especially because scientists don’t know if the immunity will translate to all other variants. Instead, make sure you are fully vaccinated and boosted, social distance whenever possible, and consider double masking with a surgical mask, or wearing an N95 mask.
While we remain unaware of the long-term effects of COVID on the human body, especially on children, it is in all of our best interests to avoid getting infected as much as possible.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet.