Here is what experts have to say about it
Ever since the onset of the pandemic, people have been taking all the care to protect themselves from coronavirus. From handwashing to maintaining distance in public places, there is an endless list of things we have been following to keep ourselves safe. But the emerging report of the mild symptoms of Omicron has forced many to think whether they should get infected on purpose.
Also See: How Omicron symptoms differ from Delta and previous COVID variants
Also See: Common symptoms of omicron variant
Also See: Coronavirus: The COVID symptom that is less common in the Omicron wave
Why people are considering getting infected on purpose
The concept of getting purposely infected with Omicron has emerged from the idea that COVID-19 is inevitable. Besides, it is believed that getting infected with the virus can help to develop immunity against it in the long run. When the body fights the infection on its own, it becomes more equipped to fight the other variants of the same virus in future. Additionally, research suggests that vaccination plus infection provides strong protection against the strain of the coronavirus. Based on these logics, many assume it is better to get infected to get an extra layer of protection.
Read more: Coronavirus: Why Omicron symptoms are similar to common cold
Why is it a bad idea
While many consider this to be a practical idea, as per experts in the field of medical science, doing this can backfire miserably. Dr Rakesh Pandit, Senior Consultant & HOD, Internal Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka said that getting oneself infected with coronavirus at this time "will be a foolish thing to do." He further explained it is not a practical solution because the variant cannot be determined as Omicron or Delta just by RT-PCR. So, one cannot predict which variant will infect them. It can be Omicron or Delta, the latter can lead to severe symptoms. "There are still 10- 15 per cent cases of Delta, it is not possible to know for an individual that he/she is affected with Delta or Omicron," he said.
Besides, the severity of the condition depends on the viral load so it would be wrong for someone to assume the severity of an infection. "Getting affected with any COVID variants is not like getting metered doses from someone, assuming that only a few viruses will be passed on to you and you’ll be able to develop immunity. It completely depends on the viral load of the person who is transmitting the virus to others. If that person has a high viral load then there are higher chances of you getting infected more severely," he elaborated.
Mild is an understated term for Omicron
Several studies have suggested that Omicron leads to mild symptoms, but mild is an understated word in terms of coronavirus. Even getting infected with this mild variant will disrupt your daily functioning for at least 10 days. You will have to deal with a range of symptoms like fever, chills, cough, breathlessness, muscle aches, headaches, loss of smell and taste, nausea and vomiting. On top of that, there is always a risk of long term symptoms, particularly when you are suffering from an underlying health condition.
Dr Col.Vijay Dutta, Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre said that some reports suggest that Omicron leads to mild symptoms, but they can be misleading. "People don’t know about the severity of the Omicron till they face any major post COVID symptoms of any disease. Available tests and current knowledge do not tell us about the duration of immunity and protection against reinfection, it is recommended people should follow the COVID protection norms, especially those who are yet to be vaccinated or have received just one dose of vaccine and have comorbidities," he asserted.
You can infect others
Infected person starts transmitting the virus to others long before he/she even sees the symptoms. That means you will not only put your life in danger but would spread it to others as well.
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Word of caution
Dr Pandit warned that it is important to realize that there is no regulated way of getting infected with the virus. Therefore it is essential to follow all the guidelines issued by the government to protect against coronavirus. The virus is changing its structure and new variants are likely to come, which can evade our immunity. The only way to stay safe is by getting vaccinated and following all precautionary measures.