Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 Area doctors weigh in on new Omicron variant I By Christopher Roberson t only took five days for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 to spread from South Africa to the United States with the first case being confirmed in California on December 1. The new strain has also spread to several other countries, including Botswana, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Dr. Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha, division chief of infectious diseases at Cambridge Health Alliance, said it is only a matter of time before Omicron works its way into Massachusetts. The arrival of Omicron in the Bay State will only compound the current problems created by the already-prevalent Delta variant. “Delta is still the variant contributing to the recent increase in infections and hospitalizations in the region,” said Bruno-Murtha. “The science and implications of the Omicron variant are actively being exLawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net amined, and we will know more very soon. At this time, the best response is to promote COVID vaccination for those not fully vaccinated and encourage everyone who is eligible to seek a booster dose as soon as possible.” Dr. Kimiyoshi Kobayashi, chief quality officer at UMass Memorial Medical Center, said Massachusetts may not necessarily be a target. “It is still unclear whether this will happen,” he said. “It will depend on how it competes with the Delta variant. We will have to watch what the balance between Delta and Omicron will be.” Dr. George Abraham, chief of medicine at Saint Vincent HosSPECIAL TREE | FROM PAGE 1 5 p.m. today in front of Town Hall and will last through 8 p.m. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree estimated that the Christmas tree lighting – one of the town’s most popular events of the year – draws in a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people on the first Friday of December. The program begins at 5 p.m., with a full two hours of family-oriented events WAITING TO GET LIT UP: The Christmas tree in the rotary at Saugus Center will be the focus of tonight’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and festivities. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) – especially for kids. But the main event gets underway at 7 p.m., when Santa Claus arrives shortly after the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Then he will spend all of 90 minutes – and maybe a little past the 8:30 p.m. closing time – to accommodate a long line of children and grown-ups who want to share a photo opportunity with him. This year’s program will be similar to in years past, modified by concerns of being safe from possible exposure to COVID-19. The entertainment includes sleigh rides, train rides, inflatables and a petting zoo. Those who go will also get to enjoy apple cider, hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn. WIN Waste Innovations is a sponsor of the tree lighting event. As part of that sponsorship, there will be complimentary pizza from Charlie’s Pizzeria. Also, WIN Waste has arranged for the 98.5 FM Street Team to appear and provide giveaways, etc., according to WIN spokesman Paul Halloran. “That the tree lighting is being dedicated to Greg Nickolas is especially meaningful for WIN, as we worked closely with Greg on the Saugus Speaks Out anti-drug initiative as well as, more recently, the Nesting Box Initiative that we implemented with Saugus Public Schools,” Halloran said. Town officials describe Nickolas as a “proud Saugonian,” a dedicated family man who loved his hometown, a passionate advocate for children, a huge booster of youth sports, a compassionate man who sought to save kids as well as adults from the perils of substance abuse and somebody with a huge heart and a strong faith. “Greg was one of the most selfless people I have ever known,” Former School Committee Chair Jeannie Meredith said in an interview earlier this year, reflecting on the life of “a dear friend” she’s known for more than three decades. “He dedicated his life to helping and saving our youth as well as any adult that needed his help. Greg was the true meaning of a ‘proud sachem’, he loved his town. He had many passions that he worked hard and fought for, including but not limited to, introducing town programs for our youth, Athletics, awareness and education to the major opiSPECIAL TREE | SEE PAGE 13 pital, said he was not surprised by the detection of Omicron and the previous strains. “We have predicted and long suspected that we would see variants,” he said. “The variants pop up in parts of the world where there have been the lowest levels of vaccination.” Abraham also said Omicron may not be that troublesome in the long-term. “Based on preliminary data from our South African colleagues, the number of cases has risen dramatically, about 700-fold, but the number of hospitalizations, serious illnesses and deaths have not increased significantly,” he said. “This suggests that there might be overall mild disease associated with this variant as opposed to severe disease.” In addition, Abraham said he trusts the efficacy of the vaccines. “We know the vaccines work reasonably well, generating what’s called virus-specific antibodies. But they also generate what’s called a polyclonal response,” he said. “That means it may also work against some viruses in the same family. Right now we need to determine how well our vaccines work against this variant.” Dr. Shira Doron, an Infectious Disease physician and epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, said Delta continues to atOMICRON | SEE PAGE 9
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