WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT SO FAR?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OMICRON

The world leaders and policymakers were already struggling to contain conflicts, refugee, and humanitarian crises when the global health watchdog, the World Health Organization (WHO), proclaimed the coronavirus outbreak as a worldwide pandemic during March 2020. Since then, the virus has been mutated several times. Also, it has produced different highly contagious variants, including the latest ‘Omicron. 

Just when the world was ready to bid farewell to the infectious Delta variant, which wreaked havoc across the globe, including India, the UK, and the USA resulting in 99% of cases in 2021. 

Now Omicron has emerged as a predominant variant and will probably be the variant of 2022, if not curtailed. 

Coronavirus or COVID is a flu-like virus considered a form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or pneumonia having similar or mixed symptoms. It was first reported in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019 and was considered a zoonotic virus as it was transmitted from bats to humans. However, its rapid spread is due to saliva, coughing, nasal mucous, sneezing, and even touch of an affected person or someone who has been exposed to the virus can cause the spread. 

Since the outbreak, the Chinese government took immediate steps, including strict lockdown, social distancing, sanitization, and isolation of affected patients. 

These strategies proved helpful in curtailing the disease and were adopted by the rest of the world. However, lockdown produced another socio-economic crisis and created a harmful situation worldwide. Global scientists were quick to respond through the development of vaccines, and hence, a global movement of vaccination was expedited.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE OMICRON BASED ON SCIENTIFIC FACTS

The Omicron variant was discovered and isolated by virologists in Botswana, South Africa, on November 24^th, 2021. It was identified because of 16 mutations and occurred during the winter wave in highly infected patients and was termed as highly contagious. Although the WHO has reported that it is less lethal in causing death than the Delta variant, it could become dangerous for unvaccinated people. Furthermore, those who get a booster shot of any vaccination listed by WHO for COVID are better able to cope with or handle the new Omicron variant. 

The world has faced different waves of COVID; the first wave was very lethal as scientists were still working to develop an effective vaccine or medicine that could help overcome the pandemic. So, during the second wave, different international pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Johnson, and Johnson, Astra Zeneca, etc., produced other vaccines that have proven effective against many variants. Vaccinations were distributed globally, and some countries like China, India, Pakistan made their own vaccines. 

With domestic policies, mass vaccinations were conducted, and even children above 15 years were subject to vaccination. However, the vaccinations were not enough because, with every passing month, COVID mutated and became more resistant, resulting in new variants like Omicron. 

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CONTROLLED OMICRON:

To curb the Omicron spread, different countries have adopted mixed strategies; many European countries Netherland and Austria, have imposed nationwide lockdowns while others, including Japan and Thailand, have imposed travel restrictions. Furthermore, Germany has imposed a ban on social gatherings during countries. However, countries affected economically like Turkey, Pakistan, and India have decided to limit social activities and restore mass vaccination strategy where booster doses could be administered. 

Pakistan has also adopted smart lockdown in areas with a high positivity rate. Middle to low-income countries cannot afford to impose strict lockdown and travel restrictions, but since most of these countries are highly crowded, they need to take smart measures to curb Omicron. 

AN AFFECTED BODY PART THAT IS LINKED TO THE OMICRON AND SYMPTOMS:

The general symptoms for identification of COVID initially reported by WHO included cough, burning/ fever, achy throat, sometimes even loss of senses including taste or smell, difficulty in breathing, body aches, congestion, etc. However, each new variant came with its own new symptoms. Usually, the lungs get affected the most, and the nasal pharyngeal region which includes the nose, throat, and lungs. 

However, it also affects the myocardial fluid surrounding the human heart, and patients who suffer from COVID even after recovery become susceptible to a weak heart. As per WHO, there are not no new specific symptoms for Omicron; people can even suffer from diarrhea and stomach problems due to Omicron. 

The general form of detection of COVID was the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test conducted through taking swabs of saliva from suspected patients and then, after a positive result, testing patients’ relatives or those who were in contact with the patient. Furthermore, the incubation or timeline for the appearance of flu symptoms was reported to be 1-14 days. That is why mass testing at the national level, international airports, etc., was conducted, and even those with travel history were put under quarantine or isolation centers. 

The staff responsible for the patient, including paramedics and specialist doctors, were provided with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), including hazmat suits, gloves, and N-95 masks. Wearing masks, using sanitizers, getting vaccinated, banning social events and gatherings, including lockdowns, and transitioning to online education have been termed the ‘New Normal’ with which the world must live now.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR ABOUT OMICRON CANNOT BE CONTROLLED.

From the strategies adopted by global leaders, it is evident that COVID is here to stay with us, and hence, we need a holistic approach to tackle the pandemic. We cannot only rely on vaccinations and medicines because not everyone worldwide has access to these. Also, what if there comes another variant? What if Omicron also gets mutated? Because this has been happening since the COVID was reported. So, what then? People are still learning to deal with the new normal; COVID has not just caused a medical situation, but it has also resulted in a mental health crisis. It is everywhere, in the news, in the gatherings, in the hospitals, in the air, in the global debates. 

It has resulted in a fearful situation. We cannot meet and greet our loved ones through hugs and handshakes, share with our friends, hold each other’s hands. We cannot see beautiful smiles because we must wear masks. So, this new normal has changed the perception of living; it has created a form of depression and stress, especially through social distancing, which we cannot avoid. Social behavior remains a great challenge because large gatherings cannot be avoided; political rallies, wedding ceremonies, etc. 

Whenever there is a decline in positivity rate, people think that the pandemic is over, and then they get back to their pre COVID routine and forget that we cannot repeat that. But we cannot blame people because they want their everyday lives back. However, there are different techniques and strategies to learn to adapt to the new normal especially helping tackle Omicron. 

HOW TO SPEED UP THE RECOVERY HEALING PROCESS NATURALLY FROM OMICRON?

There are so many natural healing ways to relieve the depression that has been caused by COVID and now the new Omicron variant. First of all, instead of symptom spotting and getting anxious, decide to take proactive measures. This can include lifestyle changes, such as incorporating meditation and physical exercises. 

Also, practice yoga which could be done through so many videos available online, or join yoga groups on social media to engage with positive minds. Also, instead of watching new channels all the time, read a good book or go for an early morning walk or an evening stroll, watch sunrise and sunset, admire nature, and practice deep breathing.

Furthermore, adopt clean eating, develop a hobby, learn a new skill, practice gardening. Also, another way is SAMDA which helps self-healing and promotes a positive attitude towards life. Samda healing energy helps generate healthy cells, which helps eliminate diseases in a body system, and a person can heal through a positive energy mechanism. Since science has already proven that everything is energy, why not increase energy frequency to improve lifestyle and learn to live with the new normal. 

Through SAMDA healing, a person’s soul gets connected to a higher frequency energy level to develop inner peace, contentment, and happiness. It’s a process of rewiring your neurotransmitters through energy signals which helps to promote the release of happy hormones like oxytocin and limit the release of stress hormones. So, many people have been healed by SAMDA Healers and have improved their lifestyle as they have improved sleep patterns, reported good career growth, and overall improvement in their mental health.

 It introduces deep breathing, meditation, and other techniques to help improve overall health. So, if you need help to resolve specific issues of Psychological, spiritual, physical aspects, connect us and positively revamp your life, as Ralph Waldo Emerson has rightly said, 

“Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you.”