What Makes Covid Omicron Variants More Contagious?

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 emerged a little while ago, and its latest variants are particularly contagious. It is currently the dominant strain of Covid 19 in the US. Why is it more contagious and what are we doing about it?

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Credits:
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Meredith Danko – Social Media
Tiffany Doherty -- Writer and Script Editor
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Mark Olsen – Art Director, Producer

Images and Footage
loops7/Getty Images
Matt Hunt/Getty Images
nopparit/iStock/Getty Images

[wezul]

Wait the video was shot on July 22 and uploaded on Aug 26? I did NOT know it takes over a month to get these videos out, my goodness! :O

[richyp]

Can you do a story on this SADS thing we keep hearing about?

[Coltrieversandcooking]

I’ve had a rapid heart rate and lots of PVCs irregular rhythms with BA5…didn’t have irregular beats with Delta

[nicokelly]

Thanks for the information. Very neatly presented.

[rudrajitghosh]

What's the efficacy of the booster dose? I had one few months ago.

[wezul]

I'm curious if we'll ever see COVID vaccines for animals. I get Rabies and Distemper shots for my ferrets on scedule, and would be relieved if we have a Covid vax for them too. That's my biggest fear about getting covid, not that I myself will suffer particularly, but that I could pass it to my ferrets and kill them. Ferrets have very similar respiratory tracts to humans, which is why they're used so often for animal testing. The whole weasel family is very susceptible to many of the same kinds of diseases, including covid. A mink farm had to kill its entire stock back in 2020 because the mink and humans kept passing covid between each other. And if I get sick, it will be extremely difficult or impossible to not give it to my ferrets. I'd have to leave the house and go live in a hotel for a few weeks I guess. But I know a covid vaccine for pets is likely never going to happen, so my husband and I are still taking precautions to keep either of us from getting sick.

[randominfochick]

I really wish people would stop quoting how much less likely you are to be hospitalized if you get covid and are vaccinated Without sharing a link. I've been unable To find any studies of a sizable population that show this that actually do a breakdown of like for like comparisons. The 2 groups must be identical in age, ethnicity, and health profile. If your unvaxed group that needs to be hospitalized is all over the age of 65 with multiple co- morbidities, and your comparison vaccinated group that didn't get hospitalized is all in their twenties, extremely healthy, & Is vaccinated in the previous 2 months ( Multiple pub med studies verify the vaccines last only 2 to 6 months) of COURSE your Healthy 20 year old vaccinated participants are not going to need hospitalization. that is NOT a comparison study. Also it is impossible to actually do a study like this because so many people test positive with a home kit, never go to a hospital and do not report the results to anyone. Also the hospital acquired covid rate is 60% in some units and it is never mentioned whether those people are Excluded in the studies and they should be since they arrived with a problem unrelated to covid & got covid while in the hospital.

[liketheduck]

July 22nd?! Come on. We rely on you for trustworthy and timely information.

[DannyboyO]

We're not rocking so many variants that it would account for the reinfections we're seeing. Nah, I'm sticking with my P100 mask (never could get an N95 to fit right) because each time I've been hit, it's been really bad for my grey matter. I really don't think repeat brain injury cares if it's repeat concussions or infections.

I'm taking any/all vaccines that come my way, but I really really want us to start taking better air quality precautions, because I think some upper-room UV might be a pretty affordable way to, ah, clear the air, so to speak.

[ericmeyer]

Be smart! Think for your self before getting the jab

[stevetures]

hype for the upcoming bivalent vaccine

[rparl]

Could you explain why VP Biden had a reinfection after being treated with an antiviral? Apparently that wasn't unexpected.

[ladyhawk]

I was unable to edit my comment because my phone changed a few words, I am being censored as well since I am unable to correct it
Welcome to the new Nazi Germany!

[SlazeM]

Please change your facial expressions.

Nice to listen to though.

[chesterlee]

What makes them more contagious??, The mass psychosis of the big lie.