COVID-19 Latest News: Omicron Variant & Newly FDA Approved COVID-19 Antiviral Pill

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Omicron infections are happening, and fast. Omicron is now the dominant variant of the Coronavirus accounting for 73% of new COVID-19 cases last week.

While the incubation period for COVID-19 is between two and 14 days, a recently published study from Norway shows that those exposed to the Omicron variant are experiencing visible symptoms faster. The same study found that symptoms appear from zero to eight days (the median time is three days).

When the Omicron variant emerged in the U.S.in late November, infected patients experienced flu-like symptoms such as dry coughs, fever, night sweats, and body aches. New studies and CDC data, however, have recently found that the most common symptoms associated with Omicron are fatigue, congestion, and a runny nose.

While Omicron is believed to have a faster incubation period than previous COVID-19 variants, it is less severe than its predecessors. Nonetheless, precautions should be taken, especially with the holidays and potential exposure to immunocompromised individuals.

Health officials and government websites have shared the following tips to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

1.    Wear a mask to protect yourself and others to stop the spread of COVID-19.

2.    Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you.

3.    Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.

4.    Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you.

5.    Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

6.    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

7.    Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

8.    Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces daily. If someone is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

9.    Monitor your health daily.

FDA Approved Antiviral COVID-19 Pill

On a positive note, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wednesday, the use of Pfizer’s antiviral pill to treat COVID-19, a first of its kind treatment that better the chances of fighting against the virus. Here are some known facts:

1.    The treatment, name Paxlovid, requires infected patients to take 30 pills at home over the course of five days to reduce the chance of hospitalization and death in high-risk individuals.

2.    Paxlovid could be available to patients as early as this weekend.

3.    The FDA approved the treatment for patients 12 and older with mild to moderate COVID – specifically those most likely to end up hospitalized or in critical condition.

4.    The treatment should be administered after diagnosis and within five days of symptom onset.

5.    The pills are not a substitute for the vaccine, or the COVID-19 booster shot, but instead a medication to treat those affected with the coronavirus who have not been vaccinated.

6.    The U.S. government purchased 10 million courses of the Pfizer treatment in a $5 billion deal. President Joe Biden is working to ensure the treatment is free and accessible to everyone who needs it.

Sources: LinkedIn, CNBC

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