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Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022
VOL. 105, ISSUE 2
As omicron becomes dominant variant, COVID-19 cases spike in Jackson County
Dustin Clark | @dustinclark.oof Joel Kottman | @JoelKottman
The omicron variant of COVID-19 is less sensitive to existing antibodies, which has led to its rapid spread around the world, Associate Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences Keith Gagnon said. “Right now, the two major variants in circulation are delta and omicron. That may quickly become only omicron. There are already sub-variants of omicron, or derivatives of it, in circulation. More will likely be observed,” Gagnon said. Gagnon said he helps test for the various variants. “Positive samples from patients are deactivated by testing centers, such as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and then sent to my lab at SIU,” Gagnon said. Gagnon said his lab processes these samples and sequences the genome of the virus. That sequencing is then used to determine the variant by identifying the “mutation signatures” that are identifiable differences and
hallmarks of each variant. Gagnon said some of the differences between the original strain of COVID-19 as opposed to variants include many more mutations throughout the virus’ genome, especially in a protein called the spike protein. “The spike protein is responsible for gaining access into a patient’s cells and initiating the infection. This spike protein is also typically the first part of the virus antibodies recognize,” Gagnon said. “Thus, its significant number of mutations have given it partial immune escape, which makes it easier to infect those that have been vaccinated.” Gagnon said some of the key factors fueling the development of the variants are the sheer number of cases worldwide, long periods of incubation in infected individuals, the crossover into wildlife and a growing number of individuals who possess some immunity. Gagnon said that there are thousands of “genetic variants” that have occurred. The reality that we are at omicron in the Greek alphabet should indicate how many
variants of concern we have so far. He said he believes omicron has ushered in the end of COVID-19 and the beginning of what should be called COVID-21. “The virus has mutated to the point that it is arguably a very different disease. At its current rate of spread, it will outcompete all other existing variants around the globe within the next several weeks,” Gagnon said. “If it does so, and no new, more severe variants emerge that can spread as quickly, then we will have entered a more stable endemic-like phase that is probably more manageable in the future.” “There are no original SARSCoV-2 variants anymore. They are extinct. All that is left in most of the world is delta and omicron. Delta is quickly becoming a dinosaur with the contagiousness and speed at which omicron moves,” Gagnon said. Jackson County Health Department administrator Bart Hagston said between January 2 and January 8 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 1,236 new cases.
“That averages out to about 177 cases a week,” Hagston said. Gagnon said Jackson County has shattered records. “We have exceeded the record number of daily cases, which was set last year at this time, by threefold and it is still climbing,” Gagnon said. Gagnon said the mutations of omicron allow it to be more infectious and replicate faster, meaning its incubation time is shorter from exposure to presentation of symptoms and can spread the virus in the meantime. “It also means that it can partially bypass immunity gained by previous infections or vaccinations. Interestingly, the mutations acquired by omicron have also rendered it less severe of a disease,” Gagnon said. “It is much milder, and does not attack the lungs as effectively as delta and other variants.” Hagston said the omicron variant has proven to be highly transmissible, but most cases of omicron are more mild, especially for vaccinated individuals. “As of January 10, 2022, SIH’s
testing sites were fully booked and their demand for testing is at an all time high,” Hagston said. Staffing at Illinois hospitals and labs are at an all time low Though cases can be more mild, the rapid spread of the omicron variant has stretched already limited hospital capacity. The Illinois Department of Health reported on its website, they have recorded 30,442 combined variant cases and a case positivity rate of 10.6% for the state of Illinois. The CDC recommends vaccination, masks and avoiding indoor events as the most important precautions for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Hagston said the CDC reported 52.7% of people in Jackson County are fully vaccinated and 22% have received a booster. The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website reported that there have been 19,893,424 vaccines administered to date. Staff reporter Joel Kottman can be reached at jkottman@dailyegyptian. com and on Twitter: @JoelKottman