Omicron study: How quickly can you be exposed to virus, develop symptoms?

A new study has revealed that the window of getting infected with Covid and showing symptoms is getting smaller. The study found that with every new variant the incubation period i.e the time between your getting infected and showing symptoms has significantly decreased. Now the Omicron variant has the shortest incubation period which is the predominant variant in the USA currently.

The study revealed the following correlating trend of the Incubation period for various Coronaviruses:

Variant	Alpha	Beta	Delta	Omicron
Incubation period(days)	5.00	4.50	4.41	3.42

Though the studies conducted by scientists in Beijing largely relied on people’s memory for the time of getting infected and coming of symptoms, some experts have agreed with the findings and told similar shortening of incubation period in their observations as well.



Now Corona can Spread more easily with a shorter incubation period:
According to the Director of the campus public health response team, David Souleles more viruses circulate in your system when you speedily become symptomatic, increasing the likelihood of your spreading the Omicron, the dominant variant to someone else.

He said that due to the faster development of symptoms such as coughing and sneezing( which used to take a 7-to-10-day window) the corona variant has "accelerate the ability" to "move from person to person."

New Coronavirus variants such as Omicron can infect more people:
The study stated that Coronaviruses have "evolved and muted continuously" since the beginning of the pandemic which resulted in new variants having distinct transmissibility.

According to Dr. Gregory Poland at Mayo Clinic, the different transmissibility is developed by the self-made changes in the structure of viruses for more invasiveness. Poland said that it helps viruses achieve their goal i.e to “continue to infect people”.

Now coronavirus variants infect the lower airway more than the upper airway, so the spreading has become easier.

Get the updated Covid shot for protecting yourself in the fall from Omicron:
Souleles advised remaining “up to date with their vaccinations” for keeping yourself and your loved one safe.

There will be stronger protection against Omicron as Moderna and Pfizer will have their COVID vaccinations updated. So people will have the chance to get booster doses in the upcoming fall.