According to The Straits Times, with more information now available, the Omicron version is becoming a more well-known foe.
Omicron has caused 2,252 Covid-19 instances in Singapore so far.
The incidence of Omicron has increased dramatically in the last week, with the Ministry of Health (MOH) detecting 1,281 cases, including 1,048 imported cases and 233 local cases, according to Kenneth Mak, director of medical services at a virtual press conference held by the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 on Wednesday (Jan 5).
Vaccines, particularly boosters, offer significant protection against serious infection. (Photo / Retrieved from Pixabay)
Because of its high transmissibility relative to Delta and other variations, Omicron cases account for an average of 18% of all Covid-19 cases reported to MOH, and this proportion is expected to grow.
The Omicron and Delta versions differ in the following ways.
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- Omicron has a higher transmission rate than Delta.
Delta infections doubled every six to eight days at their peak. Omicron infections, on the other hand, might quadruple in two to three days, according to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
According to Associate Professor Mak, the next wave could be stronger than the Delta wave that hit Singapore last October and November.
MOH witnessed case counts surge at roughly 5,000 in a single day during Delta's peak, but he warned that the number connected with an Omicron wave may be far higher, possibly reaching 10,000 or even 15,000 in the worst-case scenario.
Prof Mak stated that this issue is consistent with what has been observed in other nations such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, other European countries, and South Africa.
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- Omicron infections are milder than Delta infections.
This is especially true among the vaccinated, and even more so among those who have received booster shots, according to Mr Ong, and is in line with international data and what Singapore has seen.
There have been 2,252 Omicron cases in Singapore so far. Only three of them required oxygen support, and they were all taken off it within three days.
So far, none of the Omicron cases have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). If the Delta variety had infected the 2,252 instances, Mr Ong estimates that roughly 30 people would have needed oxygen, would have been admitted to the ICU, or would have died.
- Vaccines, particularly boosters, offer significant protection against serious infection.
Although vaccine efficacy against Omicron is lower than that against Delta, immunization still gives protection against Omicron, especially among individuals who have received their booster shots, according to Prof Mak.
He recommended those who are eligible to obtain the immunizations as soon as possible, noting that vaccination and boosters provide protection against both types.
However, those who have previously recovered from Covid-19 infection face a higher risk of reinfection, according to Prof Mak.
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