South African Doctor Who Reported First Omicron Case: "Mild Symptoms, Home Treatment Possible"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyun-ui Cho] The South African doctor who first announced the existence of the new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' stated that the symptoms of Omicron have so far been mild.

Dr. Angelique Coetzee said in an interview with major foreign media on the 28th (local time), "Patients experienced severe fatigue along with muscle pain and headaches for a day or two."

Dr. Coetzee is the person who noticed new COVID-19 symptoms during her practice earlier this month and reported to health authorities the possibility of a new variant virus.

However, she explained, "Most patients showed very mild symptoms" and "Home treatment was possible without hospitalization or surgery."

Omicron symptoms are characterized by differences from existing COVID-19 symptoms. There was no loss of taste or smell, nor a significant drop in oxygen levels.

Most Omicron infected individuals were under 40 years old. Nearly half of them were unvaccinated.

Dr. Coetzee expressed concern about the impact of Omicron on the elderly. She told The Telegraph, "It can still affect elderly people with underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart disease," and "We must prepare for the possibility of unvaccinated elderly people becoming infected with Omicron."

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