Superspreading potential of COVID-19 outbreak seeded by Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong
Zihao Guo, Shi Zhao, Shui Shan Lee, Chris Ka Pun Mok, Ngai Sze Wong, Jingxuan Wang, Katherine Min Jia, Maggie Haitian Wang, Carrie Ho Kwan Yam, Tsz Yu Chow, Ka Chun Chong, Eng‐Kiong Yeoh
Abstract
Using two early transmission chains in Hong Kong, the estimated R and k were 1.34 [95% credible interval (CrI): 0.94–2.19] and 0.33 (95%CrI: 0.17–0.62), respectively, inferring 20.3% (95%CrI: 12.7–29.6%) cases were responsible for 80% of the transmissions of the Omicron epidemic. Compared with Omicron BA.1, Omicron BA.2 had a greater superspreading potential.
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)MedicineOutbreak2019-20 coronavirus outbreakTransmission (telecommunications)VirologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseasePathologyTelecommunicationsComputer scienceSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 epidemiological studiesSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing