Omicron and Delta variants - severity and health hazards

The Omicron variant of covid-19 is highly transmissible and more contagious and there is a reduced risk of hospitalization for Omicron compared to the Delta variant. 

• one should be up to date on the latest information, sine every variant information changing with a certain course of time and research, WHO warned and said it should not be considered as mild infection. Websites of international organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization are a genuine sources of information and we should rely on such platforms only.

While Omicron is considered milder than the Delta variant of COVID-19, it is more infectious in nature. Being more infectious, the rate of spread was greater than any variant so far. In terms of severity and health hazard, as stated, the Omicron shows milder symptoms and the isolation period is also reduced to 7 days (1 week), instead of the usual 14 days period (2 weeks). This depict that Delta variant is still a greater health hazard. But, the chances of re-infection and escaping the vaccination immunity is higher with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. 

Moreover, the load on healthcare system can be greater than previous strain (Delta) if the rate of spread of Omicron keeps increasing. Thankfully, the rate of hospitalization is far less than Delta until now.

A study conducted in the United States, posted on 25 January 2022, compares both the variants in terms of their severity and health care utilization. The report summarizes the situation adequately. Linking the reference below -

//www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7104e4.htm

The Omicron variant is more infectious but less severe than the Delta variant.

According to a study by a Japanese scientist at Kyoto University, the transmissibility rate for Omicron is 4.2 times higher than the Delta variant. He also states that the Omicron variant is more likely to escape the immunity built naturally or through vaccines.

It is to be noted that even though the Omicron variant is less severe than Delta, vulnerable populations such as young children or older adults can have other diseases or complications even due to the slightest infection from any variant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Therefore they must be protected against the Omicron variant even if it is less dangerous in terms of complications it can bring.

References:

//www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/omicron-vs-delta  

@shruti-sharma Agree Shruti! Here is the link to FAQs for Omicron variant released by MoHFW, Government of India.

//www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FAQsonOmicron.pdf

Although symptoms profile of Delta and Omicron variants are not different but with Omicron, symptoms are milder and risk of hospitalization is also low. Omicron variant transmission rate is higher than Delta variant as it is reported that Omicron stays in upper respiratory track therefore it multiplies and spread quickly,

Variants can be different in severity and transmissibility but it is important to follow the same preventive measures.

//www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/omicron-vs-delta