A lab in Frisco has identified the first North Texas cases
of the omicron variant of COVID-19. There remains a lot we don’t know. But a
picture is emerging. Will Maddox reports:
“So, what do we know so
far? There is good news and bad news. Omicron seems to be highly contagious and
quickly became the
most dominant strain in South Africa. Still, symptoms appear to be closer to
the common cold than the severe flu experienced by previous variants. This
pattern follows what many have said would eventually happen to COVID-19: that
it would become endemic and part of the yearly cold and flu season we all have
to deal with, but not something that would shut down society.
“Recent research out of
South Africa says omicron evades some of
the protection from the vaccine but that vaccinated individuals are mostly
protected from severe illness and death due to COVID-19. More recently, Pfizer
said its booster is effective against
omicron, as well.”
Health officials say
we’re in a much better place now than we were a year ago. Taking
precautions—getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot, wearing a mask in
crowded indoor spaces—remain an effective way of fighting the virus.
“It’s a cause for
concern, but not panic,” Dallas County health director Philip Huang told
Maddox. “It should be a wake-up call and reminder that we need to continue to
take this seriously and do the things we know will help slow the virus.”
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