Just when the number of cases worldwide was declining and everyone thought that the pandemic was getting better, the unforgivable virus once again delivered a shocking blow to the planet. A novel variety of SARS-Co-V-2, B.1.1.529, was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, 2021.
First discovered in Botswana (November 11) and South Africa (November 14), in the short time since its discovery, this variant virus has spread at an unbelievably rapid rate, causing great concern in the medical community and worldwide. The World Health Organization has named this variant of B.1.1.529 Omicron and classified it as "Variant of Concern"(VOC).
Malaysia's First Case Of Omicron
On 3 December 2021, the Minister of Health (MOH), Khairy Jamaluddin, announced that the first positive case of the Variant of Concern (VOC) has been detected in Malaysia. At a regular press conference, Khairy revealed that the diagnosed patient was a non-citizen traveler who arrived from South Africa via Singapore on 19 November 2021. He also revealed that the diagnosed patient underwent a Covid-19 RT-PCR test upon arrival at the International Gateway (PMA). He is a student of a private university in Ipoh, Perak.
There is no denying that we have a lot of questions about this new variant. Let me summarise your questions:
What are the characteristics of this variant?
How transmissible is it?
What are the symptoms and are the consequences serious?
And most importantly, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the vaccine we have been injected is effective in preventing it. These issues have troubled us. Since the discovery of this new species, scientists have been searching for more information and data on it, trying to get more messages on the characteristics of the new species. However, early findings from South Africa suggest that the new variant may be more transmissible, sending people around the world into a new state of fear. Even people who have been infected before are at risk of being re-infected compared to other viruses that have been identified, which means that the antibodies in humans and the vaccines people have been given are not able to fight it. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported so far in connection with the new variant of omicron. Experts have also said that they may need more time to see how severe the new strain of the virus is, and how it spreads.
Come On, Malaysia.
As citizens, we have waited a long time for the vaccination, not to mention the fact that the medical team has been on duty at the hospital every day for the past two years, treating and caring for patients. There have been cases where medical staff has died as a result of overwork, and where patients have disobeyed advice, leading to medical staff infecting the disease. When I read these stories, it is heart-breaking but it makes me respect health care workers even more. Thank you very much for your hard work during this time. I hope that both the people and the government will follow the SOPs properly and not add to their burden.
There is no telling how long this never-ending epidemic will last, and there is even the possibility that we may have to wear masks for the rest of our lives. Even so, we must always follow our SOPs, wear masks, wash our hands regularly and avoid high-risk and crowded places. All of us in Malaysia must hold on and not cause any trouble to the front line or anyone else. We will survive the epidemic! As my title suggests, one day we will bring the light back to the world again!
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