Social media users are sharing a post that makes various claims about the symptoms, severity and testing of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
An example can be seen here .
The post begins with: “Be sure to wear a mask, because the new COVID-Omicron variant coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly.”
The Omicron variant has been found through testing in about 22 states in the U.S. so far after being identified in southern Africa and Hong Kong in late November. (here )
The post claims that the symptoms of the Omicron variant do not include cough or fever, but only joint pain, headache, pain in the neck, upper body back pain, pneumonia, and lack of appetite.
There is no evidence that these are Omicron’s symptoms and that it does not cause cough or fever.
David O’Connor, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Reuters via email there had not been enough time or cases to know if the Omicron variant results in different symptoms.
“What has been widely recirculated are a few expert views based on an analysis of only a very small number of cases,” O’Connor said. “Doctors and scientists need more time to know if or how Omicron severity is different.”
The WHO told Reuters via email it was not clear yet if the Omicron variant was more transmissible or causes more severe disease compared to other variants.
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