Omicron variant, Ricciardi: “Symptoms and tests, first positive elements”

Mild symptoms and effective tests. These are the first two positive elements of the Omicron variant – also identified in Italy – that emerged pending more accurate data. Walter Ricciardi, advisor to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza, spoke at Che tempo che fa. “The Omicron variant is defined as a variant of concern, there are elements that we need to monitor. It is early for any conclusion, there are still some elements. The negative one is the huge possibility of spreading. In 2 weeks in South Africa it has gone from 1 % to 30%, the contagiousness is even higher than that of the Delta. There is a large amount of mutations, in itself it is not a bad thing. When there are many, it increases the likelihood that there is a “dangerous one.” Read also There is no shortage of positive elements. “We are getting communications from the chief medical officer of South Africa that it has no greater gravity. The other good news, just arrived from Israel, is that the tests currently available continue to diagnose it. It has not bypassed the tests and there is a there is a good chance that this also applies to vaccines, but we will know this in the next few weeks “, says Ricciardi. In the next few days, AIFA could get the green light for vaccination for children in the 5-11 age group. “Child vaccination is an epoch-making step, it is the most important step in reducing the circulation of the virus. In America more than 3 million children have been vaccinated, vaccination is proving extraordinarily safe and protective,” says Ricciardi.