Does the New Variant of COVID in China Pose a Threat to the Entire World?
COVID-19 had left the world at a standstill when it came. The airborne virus had spread to every part of the world, leaving economies to crash and people to lose their loved ones.
Recovering from COVID was not easy or quick. But slowly, the world is moving towards normalcy. However, recent news from China about a new COVID variant has caused terror in everyone.
Is COVID back? Will the variant spread to the entire world? Will the events of the past year repeat themselves?
This article answers these questions and more regarding the new COVID variant.
The New COVID Variant in China
In December 2022, the most populous country in the world, China, took a U-turn in its COVID cases as more and more people began contracting the virus. This is mainly due to their government easing restrictions and protocols on isolation and quarantine. As a result, all the hospitals in China saw an unprecedented rise in COVID cases.
The current variant spreading like wildfire in the country is considered a subvariant of Omicron, which has already been seen in various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia.
When Does This Variant Become Dangerous?
Unfortunately, this new variant is considered to be more dangerous than its predecessors. This is because it spreads much faster, has a shorter incubation rate, and has the most robust resistance to immunity.
Another reason why this variant is dangerous is that it is easily spread via asymptomatic individuals. One individual infected with the new COVID variant may transmit the virus to up to 18 other people without having symptoms themselves. For this reason, controlling the spread of the virus in China has been quite difficult.
What Does This Mean for the Rest of the World?
Since so many people are asymptomatic, it means that a lot of the cases go unreported. Hence, we don’t even have a full picture of the real data and numbers of infected people. The lack of data makes this variant a considerable threat to the world.
Individuals from China can easily travel to other countries without knowing they have the virus since they are asymptomatic.
Fortunately, most countries have acted fast in reaction to the outbreak of new cases of COVID in China. Around 15 countries have established mandatory COVID-19 testing for individuals traveling from China.
Stay Safe from COVID with TelMDCare
All in all, while we may not have much information on this new COVID variant, there is one thing for sure; COVID is not going anywhere. It will simply change forms. We must be able to assess our symptoms, treat the virus, and isolate ourselves from others if we have it.
If you suspect any COVID symptoms, you should speak to a doctor online. It’s best to stay indoors and isolated, so contacting a telemedicine doctorrather than visiting the doctor is a safer idea. TelMDCarehas licensed online doctors who can help guide you in treating your symptoms and offer protection against the virus.
Visit our websiteto learn how we can help you and book an appointment online.