Students Versus Omicron

BY LELA GRIFFIN

KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER

Covid has been plaguing the Earth since December of 2019. Since then, the change of influx in cases and deaths makes it seem like this pandemic may last forever, and it may. Some experts say that getting the booster will likely become the new yearly flu shot. This sense of uncertainty can be really stressful for everyone, and students are no exception. Over the last week, I got the chance to speak to three students on how Covid, specifically Omicron, has affected their daily lives.

The first person I spoke with is a junior at Key West High School who enjoys playing card games and hanging out with his friends. He is unvaccinated and has Sickle Cell (a disorder that causes blood cells to misshapen). Both circumstances cause him a sense of worry about catching Covid. According to a report made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The risk of severe COVID-19 increases as the number of underlying medical conditions increases in a person.” Also, those who are unvaccinated have a higher chance of catching the virus and having more adverse symptoms.

The next person I spoke to was an eighth grader at Sigsbee Charter School who enjoys playing video games, reading manga, and watching anime. She is fully vaccinated, but did not get the booster shot. Her main worry about the variant is the return of the heavy restrictions in school. This and the possibility of returning to virtual school is also a cause of anxiety for her. She noted that she has not been directly affected by the virus. However, she worries about her mom who is at a higher risk because of her frequent contact with people for her job.

Despite the new variant, some students still remain unfazed by Covid. For example, the last student I spoke with, a senior at Key West High School with an underlying condition, said that she was not worried about Omicron, or its future.

Since these interviews were conducted, the number of Covid cases has increased from around 70,000-100,000 to 400,000-750,000 cases over a 7-day period (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Also, 95% of current Covid cases were found to be caused by the Omicron variant (CDC).  Regardless of whether you are worried about Covid or not, please stay safe.

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