Last Updated on December 23, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A social media post claims that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has a 100% survival rate. We fact checked and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
‘Omicron is a cold with a 100% survival rate. The whole thing is now just political theatre’ says a social media post. The post can be found here.
Fact Check
What is Omicron?
The COVID-19 pandemic is being caused by a variant of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV). This virus has been mutating constantly. Any virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a ‘variant’ of the original virus.
Omicron is a variant of Coronavirus which was designated as a variant of concern on the advice of WHO’s TAG-VE. Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes.
Does Omicron have a 100% survival rate?
No. Contrary to the misleading online claims, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 does not have a 100% survival rate. The variant identified by the World Health Organization as a variant of concern on November 26, 2021, has been a contributing factor in worldwide deaths.
The claims surfacing on social media that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has a 100% survival rate is absolutely false. There have been various death reports worldwide
Did any death occur due to Omicron?
According to various reports (here, here, here) on Dec. 22, 129 people were hospitalized and 14 died in the United Kingdom. In Israel, a hospital confirmed the first known death in the country of a patient with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, who is said to have suffered from several serious pre-existing conditions. On 20th December, the first U.S. death due to Omicron of an unvaccinated Harris County, Texas man was reported.
As per reports (like here, here), South Africa, where the variant was first identified, also noted deaths among Omicron patients.
What is the status of Omicron in India?
As of December 22, 2021, India has recorded 236 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 16 states and UTs so far out of which 104 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data. But no fatality due to Omicron is reported as of now.
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