The OMicron transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is currently 90% detected in several parts of the country, is milder than the Delta mutation, but it is not innocent. The risk for the unvaccinated is multiple, the assistant professor of epidemiology and member of the committee of experts of the Ministry of Health, Gikas Majorkinis, states in APE-MPE. Gradually, Omicron, he adds, is displacing the Delta, which will remain in the community and to what extent we will know in about one to two months. Mr. Majorkinis notes, however, that the possibility of a resurgence of Delta is zero, but it is unknown whether another different strain of SARS-CoV-2 will appear along the way.
“At the moment A and Z are the vaccination against covid-19. In countries with high vaccination coverage, over 95-98% over the age of 60, the health system is not under pressure. England did not have to take action. “Portugal itself, in general countries with high vaccination coverage have already passed to the post-pandemic stage”, says Mr. Majorkinis. He added that “the virus will never go away and those who have not been vaccinated are at risk of being taken to hospital.” The scenario that everyone is discussing, he notes, is the post-pandemic one, where the virus will circulate in the community, but not at current levels. Vaccinated people who “meet” him will pass the infection mildly, but those who are not vaccinated have an increased chance of being taken to hospital.
Regarding the sub-variant of the strain ‘Omicron (BA.2 or 21L), where 2 cases have been identified in our country, he states that there is no evidence that he behaves differently from BA.1.
The optimistic thing is that this year’s Easter will be better than last year, according to Mr. Majorkinis. “I find it extremely unlikely that we will find ourselves in a situation like last year’s Easter,” he said.
Omicron is not innocent
Unvaccinated people have a multiple risk of being hospitalized and ending up with the ‘Omicron’ variant, says Gikas Majorkinis. “Theoretically a large percentage of intubations and deaths are with COVID-19 infection from Delta, but certainly a percentage is also from Omicron.”
Scientists emphasize in all tones that full vaccination coverage is the most important weapon to avoid serious disease. People who are intubated and who end up are mainly those who have not been vaccinated and also those who have not had a 3rd dose. In the last 15 days, 92.4% of all deaths were related to people who had either not been vaccinated at all (most) or had not had time to take their booster dose.
Omicron is gradually displacing the Delta
In the territory the Omicron variant has exceeded 80% and in some areas 90%, as Mr. Majorkinis says, showing that it is gradually displacing the Delta.
Asked if there is a case of relapse of the Delta mutation, which is related to a more serious disease, Mr. Majorkinis states that “the probability of relapse is zero, in fact we will not have a wave from Delta, unless another strain emerges through the Delta “. He explains that “there is a scenario that the Delta may remain in a percentage of the population because it also has increased penetration, something we will know in about one to two months.” He adds that based on data from previous pandemic waves, one variant displaces the other. The first Wuhan executives have been displaced, the Delta has displaced the Alpha mutation and “it is normal for Omicron to displace the Delta, but that does not mean that Delta will not remain a small percentage in the community”.
He adds that it is not known at this time how long Omicron’s rule will last and that no other executive who will be different will come.
The pandemic is not over, the Director-General of the World Health Organization warned recently, while his colleagues clarified that the large spread of the virus at this stage clearly gives the virus a chance to develop new variants.
The sub-variant ΒΑ.2 of Omicron
Omicron, (B.1.1.529), has 3 main sub-variants: BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. BA.1 has caused the majority of Omicron infections worldwide and in Greece it is estimated to be more than 90% in most regions. But BA.2 has also begun to be detected in several countries (two cases in our country). According to Mr. Majorkinis, scientists have known since the beginning of December that the ‘Omicron’ variant has two branches. It is too early to say whether BA.2 “sub-variant is more contagious because we have not seen it happen in other countries. “There do not seem to be significant differences between one branch or the other in terms of, say, morbidity or contagion. It is still early.”
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