As we have witnessed in the past, every emerging variant has something new to unveil.
The Delta variant, which was first detected in India in October 2020, became the world’s most dominant variant. Not only did it infect millions and cause severe complications, but it also claimed a lot of lives.
A year later in November, Omicron variant was detected in South Africa and was immediately declared as a ‘variant of concern’. While the new variant does not cause any severe infection, it contains over 30 plus mutations in the spike protein, which not only makes it highly transmissible, but also helps it escape vaccine-induced immunity, adding to the woes of breakthrough infections. To top it off, the WHO has said that people who have had COVID in the past are prone to re-infection, if they come in close contact with the Omicron.
Having said that, though milder, the emerging variants continue to wreak havoc around the world. Therefore, Dr Van Kerkhove warns against a possible new variant and says that there is “no guarantee” the coronavirus will get weaker as it evolves. And while the world may choose to believe so, “we can’t bank on it.”
