Omicron may feel like a common cold, but docs say 'long COVID' is still a risk | - WPLN
The omicron variant now accounts for about 60% of new infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory Nearly two years into the pandemic, there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding COVID-19, and well-intentioned public messaging can be easily misinterpreted. Omicron became the dominant strain in the US in the past two weeks, and early insights on its weakened severity have put many minds at ease a bit too soon, according to Dr. Todd Rice, an internist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "Even though it's probably a milder variant, I don't think it's a guarantee that there won't be long-term residual or downstream effects that are problematic for people," Rice said. Vaccinated and boosted individuals are likely to experience a mild illness, which preliminary data suggests will feel more like a common cold — with symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose, headache and fatigue. But mild o...