With businesses reopening and more social gatherings among friends and family as the COVID-19 outbreak entered an endemic phase a few months ago, everyone began to rejoice, only for the Omicron variant to emerge. Specialists first discovered the newly mutated Omicron variant in South Africa in November 2021. Among other countries, Malaysia, France, and Germany have reported cases of the Omicron variant.
The new Omicron version is 4.2 times more infectious than the Delta variant, according to research. The variant also has many mutations, including over 30 spike protein variants, enabling the variant to infiltrate into human cells easier.
CONFIRMED CASES IN MALAYSIA
Malaysia has confirmed 62 Omicron variant cases, 61 of which were imported cases, and one was locally transmitted. The local transmission was a woman from Sarawak who had no prior travel arrangements when afflicted with the virus. Although the cases for the Omicron variant appear to be minimal, statistics show that imported cases have significantly increased. According to one study, Omicron spreads rapidly, doubling in 1.5 to 2.5 days. This data depicts how low numbers can quickly rise to large numbers.
VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT
The vaccines designed for us consumers have protected us incredibly against the previous Delta variant in reducing the risks if we contracted the COVID-19 virus. However, three to four months after vaccination, two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines provide less protection against the Omicron variant.
Individuals who received a Pfizer primary course saw a roughly 70 percent protection after a Pfizer booster, dropping to 45 percent after 10-plus weeks, and 70 to 75 percent after a Moderna booster up to 9 weeks after booster.
Individuals who received Astrazeneca immunisations initially then a Pfizer booster saw their protection drop to 35 percent after ten weeks and 45 percent with a Moderna booster.
Two doses of Sinovac developed inadequate antibodies against Omicron, according to a study from the University of Hong Kong. The same incident goes with the Sinovac booster. The University of Hong Kong team suggested a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine for Sinovac immunisation patients.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES
Imperial College’s extensive review of UK data reveals a 40-45 percent reduction in hospitalisation risk compared to the Delta variation. This research implies that Omicron is less harmful, but keep in mind that it can still send many people to the hospital because it is so much more infectious.
The most important thing we can do is reduce our risk of infection. Take the following precautions to guarantee the safety of you and your loved ones:
- Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose; medical-grade 3-ply masks or KF94 masks provide the best protection.
- Clean, sanitise, and disinfect your houses regularly
- Keep at least a one-metre physical distance between yourself and others.
- Improve the ventilation in your office or any other enclosed location.
- If you are outside, wash your hands frequently and bring hand sanitisers with you.
- Unless required, limit your travel and restrict your interaction time with people.
- Get immunised and get your booster shot when it’s your turn. COVID-19 vaccines are both effective and safe.
Enviro Group Asia is committed to preserving your cleanliness and safety from the risks of Omicron virus infection. Our previous article emphasised the need to disinfect our homes, especially now that the COVID-19 outbreak is still rampant. Enviro Group Asia is the industry leader in providing the best Rapid Disinfection Service. Disinfection is one of the most effective strategies to keep COVID-19 viruses at bay. Here are some of the reasons why you should think about using our Rapid Disinfection Service:
- Kills 99.999 percent of Bacteria and Viruses
- Disinfectant sprayed using Patented Electrostatic technology for consistent coating
- Protects surfaces up to 90 days
- Non-toxic & Non-corrosive – Safe to use on all surfaces
In addition to our Rapid Disinfection Service, if you want to disinfect your houses more regularly, you can opt for our Cordless Disinfectant Sprayer, which is convenient and easy to use. The following are some of the benefits of using our Cordless Disinfectant Sprayer:
- Optimum spray distance of 3 to 5 metres
- Run time of 30 minutes per charge
- Lightweight and ergonomic design
- It covers areas that are harder to reach with conventional cleaning
- Efficient for all places
We have been battling the COVID-19 outbreak for two years, and our motivation may be waning as we grow tired of living in fear. However, we must remain vigilant. While the Omicron variant has a lower impact than the Delta, there is insufficient information to predict how severe it could be in the future. Put on your mask, get your booster shot, disinfect your houses and always follow the standard operating procedures.
