The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has develop into a priority for well being officers around the globe, however there isn’t a lot recognized but about its results or its risk ranges and Utah officers say they’re nonetheless busy coping with the variants already impacting the state.
Intermountain Healthcare held a press convention Tuesday regarding the new variant, with well being officers and docs pronouncing they’re operating to be informed extra about omicron and how one can best possible get ready for it. Intermountain Healthcare Infectious Illness Doctor Eddie Stenehjem stated the omicron variant isn’t like earlier variants.
“What’s other about omicron in comparison to delta or alpha or beta, or every other variants that got here ahead of it’s the sheer choice of mutations that we see within the virus itself,” Stenehjem stated.
Even the delta variant, which has resulted in well-liked surges in caseloads, hospitalizations and deaths attributed to COVID-19, together with in Utah, has a ways fewer mutations than omicron. The mutations may just lead the brand new variant to be particularly contagious or bad, however there’s too little recognized about its real-life affects to mention needless to say, Stenehjem stated.
“In South Africa, it’s an excessively other scenario at the moment,” Stenehjem stated of the rustic the place omicron used to be first reported. “They first of all had very low circumstances and now they’re seeing an excessively important spike in circumstances, however they’re additionally very under-vaccinated.”
What does omicron variant imply for Utah?
The used to be known just a week in the past and no longer a lot has been showed in regards to the contagiousness or severity of it. Stenehjem stated researchers world wide are operating on learning the brand new variant at the moment.
“We shouldn’t lose sight of what is taking place to us at the moment in Utah,” he stated. “omicron isn’t affecting us; delta is affecting us. That is the place our scenario is at the moment and what we wish to be interested by when it comes to our hospitalizations. There have been 20 new deaths launched as of late.”
No circumstances involving omicron haven’t begun been reported within the U.S.
Intermountain Healthcare continues to be encouraging those that have no longer been vaccinated to get vaccinated and for individuals who can to get booster photographs.
COVID-19 numbers in Utah as of Nov 30:
- COVID-19 circumstances: 595,801
- COVID-19 hospitalizations: 25,914
- COVID-19 deaths: 3,528
To be informed extra about coronavirus statistics in Utah seek advice from https://coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts.
Elle Cabrera covers breaking information and subjects. Please assist us to proceed generating this content material at thespectrum.com/subscribe.
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