BRIN: Omicron Transmits Faster And Likely To Pass PCR Lab Tests

JAKARTA - Researcher from the Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Prof. Dr. Amin Soebandrio W Kusumo, said the Omicron variant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is more contagious and has the possibility of passing polymerase chain reaction-based laboratory tests. (PCR).

"Omicron spreads faster, although this still needs to be proven further," he said, quoted by Antara, Friday, December 17.

He explained that Omicron has the possibility of passing the PCR-based laboratory examination because of the many mutations in the spike area of the variant.

In addition, he said, Omicron does not have a prominent clinical symptom difference with other variants, but the clinical symptoms caused by Omicron in most patients or infected people are not severe.

According to him, Omicron may be able to escape antibodies, either from post-vaccination, in survivors or given as therapy.

"Those are the four traits that concern this Omicron," he said.

To date, he said, Omicron has not caused severe symptoms. Compared to the Delta variant, from the clinical aspect, the Omicron variant does not cause more severe and lethal symptoms.

However, he said, the Omicron variant is more contagious and the clinical symptoms are mild. Although Omicron attacks people who have been vaccinated, the clinical symptoms caused are mild. Theoretically, the variant can also infect all ages.

Because the clinical symptoms are mild, he said, it is possible that people who do not feel sick or show symptoms of illness have actually carried the virus in their bodies and are active as usual in society.

"It is also one of the supporting factors that causes the spread of Omicron to be faster, even between countries," said Amin Soebandrio W Kusumo.