Omicron Update: What does the first death in the UK mean?

Though the first death has pressed a panic button across the globe, many experts believe that there is a need to be cautioned and not panicked.

The United Kingdom has reported a first death due to Omicron infection. This new variant, which was first identified in Botswana on November 9 and later on in South Africa on November 23, has spread to about 63 countries in the span on one month and there are about 3000 confirmed cases of patients who are infected with Omicron.

Besides, there are about over 70 thousand cases world over under the suspected category of Omicron. As of now, except Britain and South Africa no country has reported its spread and severity.

According to reports, 20 percent of total cases of Covid-19 at present are due to Omicron and the UK government has declared an emergency due to its spread. The government has also introduced a booster dose for people above 18 years of age.

The United States of America had already introduced a booster dose in August for people above 18 years of age and on December 12, the government also made those in the age group of 16 and 17 eligible for a booster dose.

Though the first death has pressed a panic button across the globe, many experts believe that there is a need to be cautioned and not panicked as according to them one death doesn’t mean anything for an infection virus which has caused millions of death.

They say that the infection due to Omicron is normally mild and there are very few cases of hospitalization. “In such a situation, I don’t think there is any reason to get panicked. We still need a lot of time to wait and watch,” a noted epidemiologist working with the government said on the condition of anonymity.