Alert omicron! This warning was called for health experts following the Covid-19 case which continued to experience a surge due to local transmission of Omicron variants in the past week. We need to know how to spread omicron.
The WHO World Health Organization said that the spread of omicron was caused by a combination of factors, including increasing the Covid-19 variant and increased activity involving the crowd.
Maria Van Kerkhove, a technical leader for Covid-19 in WHO said, people need to think about reducing their exposure to the virus and controlling their transmission, especially after being known now increasing the number of new cases.
Virus mutation
Van Kerkhove said Omicron transmitted very efficiently among people because of a number of reasons. First, the mutation makes the virus easier to stick to human cells.
"Second, we have what is called Immune Escape. This means that people can be re-infected well, if they have been infected before, or if they have been vaccinated," he said quoted from NDTV.
"Another reason we see omicron replication in the upper respiratory tract, and it is different from Delta and other variants, including the ancestral strains that are replicated in the lower respiratory tract, in the lungs," explained Van Kerkhove.
A crowded place
In addition to these factors, the spread of the virus is also driven by the increase in people who are now beginning to be brave to a crowded place and do not comply with precautions such as maintaining physical distance.
"The general public is out there, all you need to worry about just reduce viral exposure. We want people to understand and feel empowered that they have control over infection," he said.
A total of 9.5 million new Covid-19 cases were reported to WHO last week. It's a record, up 71% compared to the previous week.
Gather with many people
There is one scenario that must be avoided in the midst of the eraster of the Omicron variant, which is gathering with many people in one room. Because, when in the room with many people with uncertain vaccination status, the opportunity to contract Covid-19 has increased significantly.
"What should be avoided is a place where you are with 20, 30, 40, 50 people in one room, many of which you don't know whether they are vaccinated or have been protected," said an infectious disease expert in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Watch a mask
So far, many health experts say that fabric masks are not enough to protect from very contagious Omicron exposure.
"Masks can help, but only if you use a high-quality mask like N95, KN95, or KF94," said an epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm was quoted as saying by Eat this.
According to him, high quality masks are now available on the market, but must remain careful not to buy a fake mask.
Traveling abroad
A number of experts also advise people all over the world to postpone trips that are not urgent especially if abroad. According to the Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Dr. Robert Wachter, infected with Omicron variants in a foreign country will be very troublesome in terms of bureaucracy to be able to return to the country of origin.
If you have to go because it's very important business, always wear a high-quality mask at any time at the airport and on the plane, choose a seat near the window and business class if possible, and ride the last plane to avoid the crowd.
