About a month ago, a new variant of Covid-19 was detected in South Africa called the Omicron variant. It has already reached the United States. Due to how fast it has spread across the world in such a little time, it has been a big threat to the world. The World Health Organization says the global risk to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is “very high” based on evidence, and it can lead to “severe consequences”

But how do these variants occur? When the virus infects you, they attach to your cells, get inside them, and start making copies of themselves which helps them spread. When a small change occurs in the virus, it’s often known as a mutation, and a virus with a few changes surfaces, it is considered a “variant” which is what the Delta and Omicron variants are. 

Some Glasgow students were asked about their thoughts on the new variant. Dorian Horvat, a 7th grader, said, “I haven’t heard much about it, but I know it’s more dangerous than the other variant. Even if we got the vaccine we are still not immune to the variant.” In addition, Belky Pineda, an 8th grader, said, “I think it’s bad because it’s affecting a lot of people even more than before.

Omicron has spread so rapidly in such a little time across the world this has led to countries taking action about this situation. As of now, the United States has restricted travelers from various African countries. If the Omicron variant spreads very rapidly, it can lead to another lockdown and people losing their jobs due to that. Nobody wants to think about that, especially right now. 

However, there are ways from the new variant spreading rapidly, like being aware of your surroundings,  staying 6 feet away from other people, and getting the vaccine. If you can’t get the vaccine, remember to put on your mask when around others. Not only does this protect you, but it can protect the people around you. The most important thing right now is to stay safe during these tough times.