Paphos Life

Official figures are probably an underestimate of the number of Omicron cases in the UK, a scientist has said.

Prof Tim Spector, who runs the Zoe Covid Symptom study, says although there are currently only 336 confirmed Omicron cases in the UK, the true number is probably at least 1,000 to 2,000.

He tells BBC Breakfast the new variant can only be picked up by 30-40% of PCR tests done around the country and symptoms from Omicron appear at the moment to be more similar to a cold, rather than the classic Covid symptoms of a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss of sense of taste or smell.

This means many cases may be missed as some people won't get tested, he adds.

Prof Spector says Omicron cases are expected to double around every two days so travel restrictions will become less effective.

“These travel restrictions do perhaps have their place initially when cases are really low here and really high in other countries, but when we reach that equilibrium there’s really very little point in having them in my opinion," he says.

Source: BBC app.

That sounds optimistic! Scientists here in Cyprus, are starting to realise that in some unvaccinated people of all ages the symptoms can be much more severe. In fact today, hospital admissions are quoted as being 95% unvaccinated people. From young children, to teenagers, other adult age groups, but proportionally much less in the way of the elderly who are about 90% vaccinated. Incidentally I see in the paper that 81% of the adult population in Cyprus have had at least 1jab, numbers increasing. But with children of all ages vaccinated percentages are still very low. There are a number of people in ICU's and increased care wards.
Dee

Far too early to tell - just hope people don't get even more complacent thinking Omicron is mild compared to Delta.

I hope so too! From what I read, it sounds as if unvaccinated people can be hard hit by it, presumably because they have few immune cells. Or at least hospital stats here in Cyprus say that up to 95% of inpatients at the hospitals are unvaccinated. Adults and children. Children are getting the virus too at school.
This week for the 1st time it is reported now the 6-11+yr olds must wear masks st school and be tested once a week at school.This is already done at secondary schools.


Dee

As a person who has many allergies, I am intrigued by various research articles on this topic.

'Researchers say people with allergies and type 2 asthma may have a lower risk of developing COVID-19.
They say the resistance may be due to the fact that allergic inflammation in the airways may suppress the effectiveness of a receptor used by SARS-CoV-2'.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ ... -heres-why

Let's hope that you'll be lucky!!

As confirmed by the Ministry of Health, three positive cases have been identified in Cyprus, all of which have been infected with the omicron strain of the coronavirus. The incidents are connected to travels abroad, and according to information provided to Kathimerini, they are minors from the Limassol area.

The three individuals were placed in quarantine immediately and health officials are racing against the clock to find their close contacts and isolate them from the community, in order to curb the spread of the new variant in Cyprus.
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/new ... are-minors

I read that the 3 Cypriot minors tested neg on arrival, the symptoms appeared a few days later. So probably a lot of people may have come into contact with them.Families, relations, friends. This has happened before...

Dee

Perhaps more serious than anticipated or taking extra precautions at an early stage?

People with coronavirus suspected of having been infected with the Omicron variant will be transferred to mandatory state quarantine, as two more cases of the new variant were detected in the community, a health ministry spokesman said on Saturday.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/12/11/coro ... uarantine/