Despite the claims that Omicron exhibits mild symptoms that require little or no hospitalisation, the Sultanate of Oman has reported 46 deaths between January 30 and February 7 (eight days).
Also, 103 patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in 24 hours, taking the total number of inpatients to 402, including 63 in intensive care Units (ICU).
On August 30 (Tuesday), the country reported six deaths, which was the last time the country reported more than five deaths in 24 hours before the current surge started a week ago.
Globally, as countries like the US and Australia reported a rise in the number of deaths, health experts warn that Omicron tends to spread nearly four times than the Delta variant, which makes it easy to target people who are unvaccinated, yet to take boosters and immunity compromised due to chronic ailments.
“We have increasing information that Omicron is less severe than Delta, but it is still a dangerous virus,” said the World Health Organization’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove.
“We are learning that people with underlying conditions, people with advanced age, people who are unvaccinated can have a severe form of Covid-19 following infection from Omicron.
People are still being hospitalised with Omicron as well as dying, so it’s important we have information out there that is accurate, that does suggest it is less severe than Delta, but it is not mild, Dr Kerkhove said.
“This is why we also recommend people protect themselves against exposure. Physical distancing, wearing of a well-fitted mask over your nose and mouth, making sure you have clean hands, avoiding crowds, working from home if you can, getting tested, and making sure you seek care where needed – all of those measures, this layered approach, are ways in which you can keep yourself safe and protect yourself from getting infected and passing the virus on to somebody else.”
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