The Times of India ran an article Saturday headlined, “South African medical association says Omicron variant causes ‘mild disease’.”

In the article, the Times quoted, South African Medical Association chairwoman Angelique Coetzee she said, “It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two of not feeling well. So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home.”

She also added that South African hospitals are NOT overwhelmed by Omicron patients. She said, “as medical practitioners, we do not know why so much hype is being driven as we are still looking into it.” Not sure where the good chairwoman has been the past 20 months, as “fear porn” has been a goldmine for overreaching politicians (AKA tyrants) as well as media outlets looking to get readers and clicks.

It is extremely unlikely that Omicron — or any other variant de jour will ever develop “new” dangerous behaviors. To date almost all observed evolutionary development results from a LOSS of genetic information. That’s the main reason viruses almost always mutate into less virulent strains. Their genetic information simplifies over time. In fact, one reason that Omicron can be detected using standard PCR tests, apparently, is because it is MISSING a particular gene.

So that would mean that Omicron has LOST genetic information compared to Delta. While it is theoretically possible for a virus to become deadlier by losing genetic information, it is extremely unlikely for it to do so, however a simple fact like that isn’t about to deter the purveyors of today’s “fear porn”

Here is the link to the article in Times of India article
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/south-african-medical-association-says-omicron-variant-causes-mild-disease/articleshow/87949404.cms