A month after it was first detected in southern Africa, Omicron is now known to be far more contagious than previous variants of Covid-19 but appears to cause a less severe illness than its predecessors.
Comparing Omicron to the Delta variant, the president of the French government's scientific advisory board Jean-Francois Delfraissy said its transmission is much higher but that its severity is probably weaker.Watch more on iWantTFC Omicron is spreading faster than any variant before it, with cases in some countries doubling every two to three days.
Data show Omicron could be between 35 and 80 percent less severe than Delta, though experts warn these early results should be analysed with caution. "Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week.
A booster seems to increase antibodies, with both Pfizer and Moderna announcing positive results from recent tests.Even less is known about the efficacy of Novavax, the recently-approved vaccine because it was in clinical trials when the Alpha and Beta variants still dominated.
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Two new studies suggest a reduced risk of COVID-19 hospitalization when infected with Omicron compared to DeltaTwo new preprint papers add to the growing evidence that the Omicron coronavirus variant may be less likely to cause severe disease and hospitalization compared to the Delta variant.
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British data indicate lower hospitalization rate for omicronTwo studies from Britain published Wednesday showed omicron infections are less likely to result in hospitalization compared to the Delta variant.
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Epicenter of omicron outbreak passes peak: scientistsWhile more study was needed, data from South Africa — whose experience is being closely watched — told a ‘positive story’ about omicron's severity.
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AstraZeneca: 3rd jab 'significantly' boosts Omicron antibodiesAstraZeneca said that a third, or 'booster', dose of its COVID-19 vaccine 'significantly' lifted antibody levels against Omicron in a study.
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Omicron wave forces Lufthansa to axe 33,000 flightsGerman national carrier Lufthansa will cut its winter flight plan by 'around 10 percent' as the spread of the Omicron variant fuels uncertainty about travel, chief executive Carsten Spohr said Thursday.
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Omicron wave forces Lufthansa to axe 33,000 flightsGerman national carrier Lufthansa will cut its winter flight plan by 'around 10 percent' as the spread of the Omicron variant fuels uncertainty about travel, chief executive Carsten Spohr said Thursday.
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