How is omicron different from other variants of COVID-19? INS responds [VIDEO]

The high number of cases of the omicron variant, which has been shown to be more contagious than the delta, has caused global pressure since its appearance last November in South Africa.

Global alarms are on after the hospitalization records that are on the rise. In Latin America, the infection situation by the variant omicron generated that Argentina reach a peak of 100,000 cases in 24 hours and Peru will announce the start of its third pandemic wave after registering a 50% increase in cases in December.

However, so far what is known about omicron is that it is no more deadly than other variants of the coronavirus such as delta or Gamma. As indicated by the doctor infectologist of the National Institute of Health (INS), Roger Araujo Castillo, omicron is not so lethal.

“Most of the deaths that have occurred in recent months are responsible for the Delta variant and, compared to this, omicron would not be more deadly than its predecessor”, he assured in an explanatory video about the strains of the COVID-19.

United Kingdom, one of the countries hardest hit in Europe by the COVID-19, with 148,941 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, have not reached even far the peaks of previous waves (caused by delta) and the number of people requiring artificial respiration (883, until January 5) remains stable, according to AFP agency data.

This coincides with what was said by Araujo when he points out that the number of deaths from omicrons is not increasing.

“In fact, in countries like South Africa, despite a very rapid increase in contagion cases, the number of deaths has not changed; however, that does not mean that this variant is completely benign. In fact, there are already reported deaths in United Kingdom, United States and Israel, but at a lower level compared to the other variants ”, assured.

Regarding the cases that have been detected in Peru, the infectologist pointed out that there have not been any deaths from omicron so far. “All the cases have presented mild symptoms and none have required hospitalization,” he said.

“It should be noted that the variant omicron has been reported – so far- in equal numbers between men and women and the data indicate that they have been young people between 20 and 29 years”, He concluded.