Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know

1/20/2022

Huntsville, AL (January 20, 2022) – Cases of COVID-19 are soaring due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Dr. Ric Koler, emergency services physician with Crestwood Medical Center, shares what you need to know about the virus.

Omicron appears to spread more easily than the original COVID virus and the Delta variant. Highly transmissible, Omicron moves quickly from person to person, primarily increasing infections and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated along with some breakthrough cases.

“Vaccination remains the best way to reduce the spread of the virus and protect yourself and others from serious illness,” said Dr. Koler. “Current COVID-19 vaccines still are very effective in reducing the rate and severity of infection caused the Omicron variant, especially for those who have received the booster.”

Dr. Koler advises his family, friends and patients to get vaccinated or boosted and follow proven practices for reducing the spread of infection: frequent hand-washing, remaining home when you are sick, and wearing a mask in crowded spaces. Using a KN95 or surgical mask has been found to be more effective than cloth masks. The decreasing order of efficacy in mask use is as follows: N95, KN95, surgical masks, double-lined cloth masks. For those using N95 or KN95 masks, proper mask doffing to prevent self exposure is important.

The CDC recommends COVID-19 booster shots for individuals 12 and older five months after the completion of the initial series. To find a vaccination clinic near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/

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