Variant Omicron: common symptoms, incubation, duration

Omicron results in generally mild symptoms, with fewer hospitalizations. Three times more contagious than Delta.

• Omicron is three times more contagious than Delta .
• It is confirmed: it is a less virulent variant , with fewer severe forms of Covid-19 and less risk of admission to critical care, compared to Delta.
• Vaccine efficacy is less against the infection but remains preserved to protect against severe forms, especially after a booster dose. 
• The WHO has classified this new variant as  a "variant of concern" due to a "large number of mutations, some of which are 'of concern'. 

What are the symptoms of the Omicron variant?

According to Public Health, which studied 338 cases of Covid Omicron - rather young cases - the majority were symptomatic (89%) but in a mild way.

What are the symptoms of the Omicron variant in adults ? Here are the symptoms reported according to this data provided by Public Health as of January 4:

• Asthenia (fatigue)  in 60% of cases
• Cough  (54% of cases)
• Fever  (48% of cases)
• Headaches (headaches)  (43% of cases)
• Myalgia (or aches)  in 40% of cases
• Sore throat  (30% of cases)
• Runny nose  (26% of cases)
• Feeling of fever  (13% of cases)
• Shortness  of breath (9% of cases)
• Loss of taste  (9% of cases)
• Loss of smell  (9% of cases)
• Nausea and vomiting  (7% of cases)
• Dyspnea (unpleasant breathing)  in less than 3% of cases.

Moreover, according to a report published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they are similar to a cold. The most frequently observed are:

• dry cough, scratchy throat
• tiredness
• nasal congestion (stuffy nose) or runny nose
• body aches

Cases of fever, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and diarrhea have also been reported, but to a lesser extent, according to this report.

Night sweats are sometimes also mentioned.

On the other hand, the loss of taste and smell does not seem to be associated with the Omicron variant, according to these same American data.