COVID-19: Omicron variant symptoms

The Omicron variant caused mild, cold-like symptoms, with sore throat, runny nose, and headache being the most common.

Overview

The Omicron variant was highly transmissible and quickly became the dominant strain. It generally caused less severe illness than previous variants, especially in vaccinated individuals.

Symptoms

Common symptoms: sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing. Less common: loss of smell and taste.

Causes

Omicron had numerous mutations that allowed it to evade immunity and transmit more easily, but which also reduced its severity.

Treatment

Supportive care was usually sufficient. Antivirals were available for high-risk patients.

When to See a Doctor

Seek care if you are high-risk or experience severe symptoms.