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Everything You Need to Know about Omicron

by Dr. Jonathan Doyle - Updated December 14, 2021
The first news of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 came from California, where it was present in the wastewater. Weeks later, the World Health Organization (WHO) called it a “variant of concern.” So, it is safe to say Omicron was first identified in household water. Away from California, Omicron has reached almost all other parts of North America.
How dangerous is the new Omicron variant? Are the vaccinated immune from this variant? How best can we tackle this new variant? As expected, there are several unanswered questions about the coronavirus Omicron variant. Fortunately, this blog provides answers to some of these questions.

How Fast Is The Variant Spreading?

According to a recent study, the omicron variant of the coronavirus causes severe health issues in people who inhale or ingest it, including permanent lung damages and even death in some cases.
The rate of spread is also alarming, according to South African scientists who discovered the variant. With the virus showing no signs of slowing down, there is the need to immediately understand the behavior of these pathogens under our current conditions. In the opinion of Tom Wenseleers, a renowned biologist at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, the Omicron can infect 3x to 6x the number of people as the Delta variant within the same time.

Does The COVID-19 Vaccine Work against Omicron?

The scientific evidence in regards to this question is unambiguous. Omicron behaves differently than other variants because it bypasses the immune system. According to Prof. Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, “From what we have learned so far, we can be fairly confident that – compared with other variants – Omicron tends to be better able to reinfect people who have been previously infected and received some protection against Covid-19.”

Recommended Actions for People

  • Social distancing tops the list of the most effective ways to reduce the spread and protect ourselves from the virus. Leaving at least a 1-meter distance from others and having a proper mask on at all times will go a long way.
  • Likewise, ensuring adequate ventilation or staying away from crowded areas, keeping our hands clean, and sneezing or coughing into a tissue or our bent elbow are all highly recommended.
  • Viruses cannot survive 70% alcohol solution, provided the solution is left for 30 seconds. Using 100% pure alcohol is not advisable because it evaporates rapidly, making it impossible to kill the viruses effectively.

How Do You Remove Viruses from Water?

We can reduce viruses from drinking water through the following ways;
Kindly check The New Delta Variant And Its Implication On Drinking Water Safety for more information.

Boil The Water

The COVID-19 virus pathogens cannot survive a temperature of 75°C (160 °F) for three minutes, 65°C (149 °F) for five minutes, or 60°C (140 °F) for 20 minutes. So, getting your water to 100°C will inhibit every virus in it.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

The size of COVID-19 virus particles is about 0.125 microns or 125 nanometers. RO filters usually have membranes with a minimum pore size of about 0.0001 microns. Therefore, they are 1000x smaller than these virus particles. Therefore, you can effectively trap bacteria and viruses larger than 0.0001 microns with an RO filter.

Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

This device is NSF/ANSI certified against standards 58 and 372, which means it has successfully passed over 400 chemical tests to confirm its effectiveness in reducing harmful substances in tap runoffs.
The Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis System relies on a 7 stage deep filtration technology to reduce the most harmful contaminants in your water, such as bacteria, viruses, and others. This water filtration solution becomes even more important during a pandemic.

Waterdrop D4 Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

If you want a water filter system that fits your limited space, the Waterdrop D4 RO water filter is your best option. It comes with advanced RO membranes that effectively reduce viruses and bacteria larger than 0.001 microns (the pore size of the membranes).
Besides providing you and your family with clean water, the sleek and minimalist design of the Waterdrop D4 compliments your kitchen. It is just 12.44-inch tall – you won’t even notice it on top or under your kitchen sink.

RO Water Filter with UV Sterilizer

Waterdrop G3 800GPD RO Water Filter with UV Sterilizing Light

The G3 800GPD reverse osmosis system with UV light from Waterdrop is an upgrade to the G3. The filtration performance is better with an advanced LED UV sterilizer. It is also more energy-efficient to help you save energy costs.
The G3P800 is specially made to meet the needs of your family. A multi-stage filtration system combined with a water scale inhibitor removes impurities and keeps scales out of your water. In addition, there is an advanced 7-layer RO membranes setup that reduces contaminants like viruses, bacteria, and heavy metals in your water.
The advanced LED chip powers a high-tech, ultra-powerful lamp to filter 99.9% of bacteria and viruses off your water. It is safer than the mercury vapor because it does not release any harmful substances like heavy metals into your water during or after filtration.
So, if you are looking for a more advanced and efficient way to reduce bacteria and viruses from water, this new LED ultraviolet sterilizer is your best bet.
You can read more on the Reverse Osmosis System Water Filter here.

In Conclusion

The world is now dealing with huge uncertainty, all thanks to COVID-19. No one knows if or when we will overcome this challenge and overturn the situation. But while at it, it is essential we protect ourselves and our families the best way possible. The best way to start is to keep our household water clean and safe. After all, the newest wave of COVID-19 started from household effluent.

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