It’s not a question anymore whether the Omicron COVID-19 Virus strain will hit your area, it inevitably will if it hasn’t already. During the week of 12/14-12/21 in the US, the Omicron virus doubled its total amount of cases every two days, rising from 13% to 73% in a mere week!

With the CDC’s current focus on the Omicron strain, this is evidently a highly transmissible virus. To keep you and your loved ones safe through the upcoming winter season, it’s important to set the record straight on the facts of this virus. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take right now to ensure optimum protection from the Omicron strain.

Omicron Symptoms

Differently from the Delta strain, which we wrote about previously, the recent Omicron strain causes milder symptoms overall. Compared to Delta, individuals infected with Omicron are on average 15%-20% less likely turn up in hospitals.

Discovered in Africa back in November, 2021, this new strain has since been studied by researchers in Scotland, England, South Africa, and the United States. The CDC has reported Omicron symptoms including:

• Cough or sore throat
• Fever
• Congestion or runny nose
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting or Diarrhea

New York ER Doctor, Craig Spencer, wrote “Mostly sore throats. Lots of sore throat. Also some fatigue, maybe some muscle pain. No difficulty breathing. No shortness of breath. All a little uncomfortable, but fine.”

For individuals who are unvaccinated, the symptoms are seen to be more severe. For vaccinated individuals, with either Pfizer or Moderna, symptoms remained mild overall. For those with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who were not boosted, patients have shown more severe symptoms. Currently, 61% of the American population has been vaccinated, while just under 30% has had a booster shot.

Stay Safe From Omicron

With new research being made every day, and the fact that COVID-19 is an ever evolving virus, it’s smart to err on the side of caution before exposing yourself or others to Omicron. Being a respiratory virus that transmits through the air, masking up is the ideal method to stay protected. With a vast variety of masks available to purchase, it’s common to accidentally purchase the wrong type of mask that will add little to no protection. At Pacific Medical Products, we specialize in knowing which specific masks will provide the best overall defense against Omicron.

One of the most surprising revelations is that cloth masks work as little more than facial decorations. While cloth masks can filter large droplets, N95 masks can filter smaller aerosols and particles consisting airborne viruses such as COVID-19. In fact, a properly fitted N95 mask will block at least 95% of tiny airborne particles.

KN95 masks also provide adequate protection, although there are some precautions you should take before purchasing a KN95 mask. The difference between KN95 and N95 masks is where they’re certified, the US certifies N95s while China approves KN95s. While both respirators are listed by the CDC, NIOSH has not approved all KN95 masks. Additionally, roughly 60% of KN95 respirators in the US are counterfeit and provide very little protection.

For a simple inexpensive solution, we recommend the 3Ply Medical Earloop Mask or any of the other 3Ply Masks in our Shop. For a more secure solution, we recommend the 3M Aura 9205+ N95 Mask, the Moldex 1512 N95 Mask, or any of the other N95 masks in our Shop.

Pacific Medical Products

Masking up is one of the best ways to prevent spreading COVID-19. Whether you’re looking for face masks, O2 Nose Filters, or other protective equipment, you can find all the PPE you need at Pacific Medical Products. We understand there’s a lot of concern about fake 3M masks, which is why we purchase all our 3M masks directly from two of the world’s largest 3M distributors, Medline and McKesson, who by contract only buy direct from 3M. Every mask is 100% authentic with lot numbers that can be tracked back to the manufacturer. Quality and trust are of utmost importance to us here at Pacific Medical Products. You can buy with confidence.