The 10 biggest myths about the Omicron, according to the WHO

Faced with the escalation of cases around the world in the face of Ômicron, the WHO highlighted what it considers to be the biggest myths circulating. (Credit: Playback/Pixabay)

Faced with the escalation of cases around the world in the face of Ômicron, the most infectious variant, the World Health Organization has highlighted what it considers to be the biggest myths circulating.

Fighting disinformation and Fake News has been a battle that the WHO has been working on since the beginning of the pandemic. In this way, the organization refuted some widespread myths:

+ For two years, disinformation campaigns have attacked anti-covid-19 vaccines

1. “Omicron infection is the same as a common cold.”
Although you may have similar symptoms, you need to keep in mind that Covid-19 is much more dangerous.

2. “Omicron’s cases are always smooth”.
Once again, the WHO makes it clear that while this variant has reduced the risk initially associated with the disease, it cannot be underestimated, as this can lead to death or other equally tragic consequences.

3. “Ômicron does not cause chaos in hospitalizations”.
Another widespread myth that, the organization insists, is not true. Although less dangerous, this variant still effectively leads to a large number of hospitalizations.

4. “Vaccines do not work against Omicron”.
Once again, insists the WHO, this is false information: if this variant is proving to be less dangerous, it is precisely because of the development of vaccines, which have minimized the effects of any coronavirus.

5. “Unvaccinated people do not become seriously ill with Omicron.”
On the contrary, refutes the WHO, someone who is not immunized is always at greater risk than someone who has their vaccines up to date.

6. “The booster shots do not work against Ômicron”.
Like the first doses, the booster ones serve to give a stronger immune response to the body against any variant of Covid-19.

7. “Whoever has been infected is immunized”.
It may be a fallacy, warns the WHO, people who have been infected for a longer time can perfectly well test positive again. The good news is that it is usually less severe.

8. “Masks do not protect against Ômicron”.
It continues to be recommended – and in many cases mandatory – precisely because of its effectiveness. The use of a mask protects against any respiratory virus, including Ômicron.

9. “BA.2 cannot be detected.”
Although it initially became known as the “stealth variant”, as it is more difficult to identify than other strains, this does not mean that the BA.2 subvariant is not detectable in the tests.

10. “The Ômicron is a clear sign that we are at the end of the pandemic”
The WHO reports the lower danger of the latest variant of Covid-19, but insists that there is still a long way to go before the end of the pandemic can be decreed.