Covid-19: Omicron is causing more infections but fewer hospital admissions than delta, South African data show
Owen Dyer
Abstract
Covid-19: Omicron is causing more infections but fewer hospital admissions than delta, South African data show Owen DyerData from South Africa's largest private health insurer suggest that omicron is spreading faster than any previous coronavirus variant and showing signs of immune escape, with both vaccinated and previously infected people more at risk than in previous waves.More than 90% of newly sequenced infections in South Africa now involve the omicron variant, and as it displaced delta, vaccine effectiveness dipped, revealed data presented by the insurer Discovery Health at a 14 December briefing. 11 Analysis of omicron outbreak based on 211 000 covid-19 test results in South Africa.Discovery Health.14 December 2021.www.discovery.co.za/corporate/news-room. 2 HKUMed finds Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and better than delta in human bronchus but with less severe infection in lung.15 December 2021.