A fast-spreading Omicron variant that causes milder illness compared with previous versions of the coronavirus has fueled the view that COVID-19 poses less of a risk than in the past. For those who do have symptoms, a higher proportion experience very mild illness, such as the sore throat or runny nose without the breathing difficulties typical of earlier infections.

Omicron is the fifth highly significant variant of the original SARS-COV-2, and it remains to be seen if the ability of the virus to mutate further will slow down. In fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without underlying medical conditions, Omicron “will not do too much damage,” said David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University.

Reference

Explainer: Why you should still try to avoid catching Omicron. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/why-you-should-still-try-avoid-catching-omicron-2022-01-12/?fbclid=IwAR3Wu9sI6Yum4sL57_fv9qsSfqqGk6meKH7GIdZ2fc_GofHdUpGV9jQ7peo