Though we’ve moved past the initial fear and panic of COVID in its initial guise, the threat still remains beyond its so-called ‘endgame’, especially for those that have pre-existing medical conditions. Often these people are cruelly pushed to the side in discussions on public health, when we should all be remaining cautious.
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to do that without sacrificing too much, from flexible working to better ventilated office spaces – the pandemic has opened up some newer and more modern ways in which to build a workplace environment.
With COVID continuing to linger, however, new strains are almost bound to develop, but the question is; should we fear the Orthrus variant? Well, naturally we should exercise caution as we have always done over the last few years. The variant is currently spreading through the UK, the US and China, and is said to be vaccine resistant in some cases.
So what do we do?
The vaccine resistant mutation in Orthrus was not found in Omicron, but was found in Delta, which perhaps gives scientists some foundation as to how we should handle the situation. Primary symptoms of Orthrus include a sore throat, a runny nose, congestion and a cough. Given the similarity to flu symptoms, it’s important to either test or avoid contact with others where possible if you have these flu-like symptoms.
Naturally, that means working from home because of COVID is likely to become common once again, though thankfully we have the tools and wherewithal to cope with new strains such as these. In many ways we are used to the ‘new normal’, and we’re able to navigate the waters a lot easier than we could in 2020. Knowledge is most certainly power, as well as experience of the last few years.
Other symptoms may include a loss of appetite, nausea, back pain and shortness of breath. Of course these symptoms are similar to that of many other diseases and viruses, meaning it’s not always a guarantee that you have COVID.
Ultimately, you know your body better than anyone, so use your best judgement. It is difficult to get a test these days, which makes protecting others all the more difficult, but you can still do your utmost to mitigate the spread if you feel you may have it.
Are there any other symptoms?
As with other variants of COVID, you may experience sneezing, headaches, muscle aches and a weaker sense of smell. Again, however, it is about knowing your body and making your own judgements.
We are fortunate enough to have a wealth of knowledge and resources at our disposal in the continued fight against COVID. Though the media covers the virus a lot less frequently, it should still be something of concern. It would be easy to be complacent and think that we’ve seen the virus off completely, but the unfortunate fact is that doing so is a herculean task.
The take away point of this new variant would be to learn the lessons of the pandemic and remain vigilant. As mentioned, this doesn’t have to come with any great sacrifice – taking precautions in the face of the virus is no longer the strenuous task it once was, and for that we should be thankful.
