Omicron wave in the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Introduction: The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 surfaced in November 2021 as the last thanksgiving and spread globally like wildfire. Spike protein mutations have been seen in this variant. The receptor binding domain (RBD) mutation of the Omicron variant raises significant concern in global vaccination programs. S gene dropout is used as a marker for Omicron detection. Conclusion: Thorough screening, continuous genomic surveillance, and careful adherence to prevention strategies may be helpful to curb the spread of the virus