The summer of 2022 unfortunately corresponded with the arrival of yet another surge in Covid infections. This time it is the Omicron 5 variant that causes the surge in the positivity rate in Italy. But let’s see what it is.
Omicron 5 is one subvariant that according to theHigher Institute of Health would have been the cause of 23% of cases up to last week. Today the data is on the rise and Omicron 5 increased the rate by more than 50%. Contagions increase dramatically but they see few hospital admissions.
It also appears that Omicron 5, as well as BA.2.12.1 and BA.4, is resistant to antibodies developed both during previous infections and through vaccination. This indicates a possibility of contagion of subjects already recovered from Covid, or completely vaccinated.
Omicron 5 unlike the Delta variant it is a virus that does not lead to serious symptoms as it mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, ie the trachea and bronchi, without reaching the lungs.
I symptoms of Omicron 5 are fever, sore throat and burning, cold and / or cough, feeling of weakness, widespread aches.
Less common symptoms are also loss of taste, loss of smell, headache and difficulty breathing.
The incubation Omicron 5 typically lasts 2-3 days from the moment of contact with a positive subject. In some cases but very rarely it can be up to 14 days. But the contagiousness is very high: Omicron 5 has an R0 index, which has risen to 15. Generally with this new variant the positivity it is very short and in about 5-7 days it becomes negative. With the previous ones it was 10 to 20 days!
Omicron 5: how to protect yourself from the new variant of Covid?
I vaccines protect against some forms of Covid 19 but unfortunately not from this variant, even if its negative effects are limited. Furthermore theModern pharmaceutical company announced that it is creating a new vaccine, which is expected to be ready by August, also effective against variants such as BA.4 and BA.5.
With the Omicron 5 variant, it is possible to reinfect even if already cured or vaccinated. The precautionary and protective measures always remain the same: masks wherever possible in crowded places and always disinfect your hands after touching any unsafe object.