Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic?
Abstract A new variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529), first identified in South Africa, has become of considerable interest to the World Health Organization. This variant differs from the other known major variants, as it carries a large number of unusual mutations, particularly in the spinous process p...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Immunity, Inflammation and Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.606 |
| _version_ | 1818312247358783488 |
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| author | Kaixi Ding Wei Jiang Chunping Xiong Ming Lei |
| author_facet | Kaixi Ding Wei Jiang Chunping Xiong Ming Lei |
| author_sort | Kaixi Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A new variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529), first identified in South Africa, has become of considerable interest to the World Health Organization. This variant differs from the other known major variants, as it carries a large number of unusual mutations, particularly in the spinous process protein and receptor binding domains. Some specific mutation sites make it vaccine resistant, highly infectious, and highly pathogenic. The world fears that the Omicron variant could be even more harmful than the previous major variant, given that it has emerged amid fierce competition to trigger a new global pandemic peak as infections in South Africa rise. However, some epidemiological evidence has emerged that the Omicron variant may produce milder patient symptoms. We speculate if the virulence of the Omicron variant will diminish as transmissibility increases, thereby signaling the beginning of the end for the global COVID‐19 pandemic. Based on this view, we make recommendations for COVID‐19 mitigation in the present and future. However, it will take a few weeks to determine the true threat posed by the Omicron variant and we need to be fully prepared for future outbreaks, regardless of their severity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:14:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34f364fc2c29438b910dad4a07164207 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-4527 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:14:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Immunity, Inflammation and Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-34f364fc2c29438b910dad4a071642072022-12-21T23:54:08ZengWileyImmunity, Inflammation and Disease2050-45272022-04-01104n/an/a10.1002/iid3.606Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic?Kaixi Ding0Wei Jiang1Chunping Xiong2Ming Lei3Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu ChinaAbstract A new variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529), first identified in South Africa, has become of considerable interest to the World Health Organization. This variant differs from the other known major variants, as it carries a large number of unusual mutations, particularly in the spinous process protein and receptor binding domains. Some specific mutation sites make it vaccine resistant, highly infectious, and highly pathogenic. The world fears that the Omicron variant could be even more harmful than the previous major variant, given that it has emerged amid fierce competition to trigger a new global pandemic peak as infections in South Africa rise. However, some epidemiological evidence has emerged that the Omicron variant may produce milder patient symptoms. We speculate if the virulence of the Omicron variant will diminish as transmissibility increases, thereby signaling the beginning of the end for the global COVID‐19 pandemic. Based on this view, we make recommendations for COVID‐19 mitigation in the present and future. However, it will take a few weeks to determine the true threat posed by the Omicron variant and we need to be fully prepared for future outbreaks, regardless of their severity.https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.606breakthrough infectionsCOVID‐19mild casesOmicron variantSARS‐CoV‐2vaccine boosters |
| spellingShingle | Kaixi Ding Wei Jiang Chunping Xiong Ming Lei Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? Immunity, Inflammation and Disease breakthrough infections COVID‐19 mild cases Omicron variant SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine boosters |
| title | Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? |
| title_full | Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? |
| title_fullStr | Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? |
| title_short | Turning point: A new global COVID‐19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global COVID‐19 pandemic? |
| title_sort | turning point a new global covid 19 wave or a signal of the beginning of the end of the global covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | breakthrough infections COVID‐19 mild cases Omicron variant SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine boosters |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.606 |
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