Relentless facts about the Omicron variant: it infects three times more than even those who have been ill

As shown by the data of the first studies of the new Omicron strain.

A new strain that emerged from South Africa has caused alarm and great concern around the world. The Omicron variant “came” to raise more questions about the unknown virus. Despite early promising claims from scientists that it is a milder form of the disease, recent data show that it causes nearly three times more Covid-19 re-infections.

The first study from South Africa shows that the new strain has a much higher infection rate, almost three times higher than the previous strains. According to scientists, this means that the rapid spread of Omicron is due to its ability to re-infect people who have had Covid-19 in the past.

South African epidemiologists from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NICD) report that, unlike beta and delta variants of covid, the Omicron strain “bypasses” the immunity naturally developed by the body of a person who has been ill. However, the study did not look at whether something similar was happening with vaccine immunity. At first glance, existing vaccines continue to provide significant protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death.

The study, which has yet to be published, according to the Financial Times and the Guardian, is based on an analysis of the results of tests conducted on November 27 on people who were infected at least three months ago and comparing the risks of re-infection of the same person with covid. The risk of re-infection with Omicron was estimated to be at least 2.4 times higher.

Significantly, South Africa, where Omicron was discovered in November, is seeing an outbreak of cases and more than 20% of coronavirus tests (one in five) are already positive. A high rate of positive test results is observed in a country where vaccination coverage is low (only a quarter of the population and 36% of the adult population are fully vaccinated).

As “Russian Athens” wrote earlier, the first case of an infected with the Omicron strain has already appeared in Greece. According to the information, a man from Crete, who was diagnosed with the Omicron mutation and who carries the coronavirus with mild symptoms, was vaccinated.

A Greek from Johannesburg who arrived in Crete directly from South Africa on November 26 tested positive for the coronavirus. Doctors confirmed that he had the Omicron mutation, despite the fact that the citizen was vaccinated with two doses.

According to the head of the 7th department (Διοικήτρια της 7ης ΥΠΕ) of the Ministry of Health of Crete Lena Bormudaki, who answered questions from Radio Crete reporters, the man with the Omicron mutation has a good clinical picture and is in quarantine at home. As the specialist explained, in connection with the movement of a Greek citizen (who arrived from a region dangerous for the coronavirus situation), from the first moment he was treated with special attention.

At the same time, precious time was not wasted on tracing the contacts of the arrived by civil protection services. He just did not have time to communicate with anyone. Perhaps, thanks to the prompt action of the competent services, the first case of the Omicron strain will be “crushed in the bud.”

A Greek from Johannesburg who arrived in Crete directly from South Africa on November 26 tested positive for the coronavirus. Doctors confirmed that he had the Omicron mutation, despite the fact that the citizen was vaccinated with two doses.

According to the head of the 7th department (Διοικήτρια της 7ης ΥΠΕ) of the Ministry of Health of Crete Lena Bormudaki, who answered questions from Radio Crete reporters, the man with the Omicron mutation has a good clinical picture and is in quarantine at home. As the specialist explained, in connection with the movement of a Greek citizen (who arrived from a region dangerous for the coronavirus situation), from the first moment he was treated with special attention.

At the same time, precious time was not wasted on tracing the contacts of the arrived by civil protection services. He just did not have time to communicate with anyone. Perhaps, thanks to the prompt action of the competent services, the first case of the Omicron strain will be “crushed in the bud.”

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