Ministry of Health Coronavirus Scientific Committee Member Prof. Dr. Alper Şener reported that an international study has shown that the Omicron variant has a similar genome sequence to the seasonal coronavirus (HCoV-229E), and this may be a sign of the transformation of Kovid-19 into a “seasonal disease”.
prof. Dr. In his statement to the AA correspondent, Şener stated that the Omicron variant has entered intercontinental circulation and is expected to be seen in Turkey in the near future.
It did not cause an increase in hospitalization rates.
Noting that Omicron is a very rapidly contagious variant, Şener noted that, however, it did not cause an increase in hospitalization rates and that the clinical pictures were mild according to the data.
“MOST HALF OF THE VARIANTS WILL BE OMICRON”
Pointing out that the number of daily cases will increase abnormally in countries where Omicron enters, Şener said, “It is calculated that more than half of the variants circulating in Europe by March 2022 will be Omicron. Because we have an example from South Africa. In a very short time, 75 percent of the variants circulating in 2 weeks. ‘I became Omicron, and more importantly, our test positive rate went up from 4 percent to 24 percent. It’s a dizzying pace.” used the phrases.
“SINGLE EFFECTIVE FIGHTING METHOD MASK, DISTANCE AND HYGIENE”
Explaining that there are various theories about how this variant developed, Şener shared the following information:
“In a joint study of scientists from the USA, Canada and India, it was shown that Omicron has a very similar genome sequence to seasonal coronavirus (HCoV-229E), which is not found in previous variants. This is actually the Omicron variant, a seasonal disease of Kovid-19. It may be a sign of return, but despite everything, it is still too early to rejoice, because we have experienced these scientific emotional fluctuations very often during this epidemic period. First of all, the dominant variant in our country is Delta, and it cannot escape from the current vaccines, and the only effective method of struggle against all variants is mask, distance. and hygiene…”
AA