Michael shares the implications of the new variant of COVID-19
December 12th, 2021 marked the second anniversary of the first detection of Covid-19 in Wuhan, China in 2019. The past two years have been extremely chaotic. Social distancing, lockdowns, quarantine, and the difficult closure and the subsequent even more difficult re-opening of schools and businesses have forever altered how we operate, politics, and our daily lives.
While the past two years have been long and excruciatingly taxing on both our physical and mental health, it is important to remember that the world’s not out of the out of the woods just yet. The newly discovered Omicron variant of Covid-19, first detected in South Africa in late November, likely originated in Europe.
The Omicron variant is a Variant of Concern of Covid-19, because it is more contagious and transmissible than both the original virus of Covid-19 and the Delta variant. Early studies also show that the Omicron variant may have mutated to pose an increased risk to those who have already contracted Covid-19.
On November 29th, 2021, the first reported case of the Omicron variant in the United States had been reported in San Francisco, California. This person received the Omicron variant after a recent trip to South Africa. Later in the week, the Omicron variant found its way into New Jersey, contracted by a woman who had also recently traveled to South Africa.
To combat the surge of the Omicron variant in the Garden State, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy states, “Vaccinations and mask wearing have proven to be an effective tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and I urge everyone ages 18 and over to receive a booster.”
Boosters are available at many pharmacies and community centers around New Jersey.