Omicron can bring the end of the pandemic closer - study

Preliminary data from a study in South Africa suggests that omicron could bring the world closer to the end of the pandemic because the strain causes less severe symptoms and provides protection against the delta variant.

Scientists examined samples of 23 people infected with the omicron strain of coronavirus in November and December, writes Bloomberg. The study showed that those who have had the Delta variant can become infected with the Omicron, and those who have had the Omicron strain cannot become infected with the Delta, especially if they have been vaccinated. The results of the unvaccinated are not so clear cut.

At the same time, everything indicates that “omicron”, although more infectious than previous strains, is less deadly. The number of hospitalizations in countries covered by the "omicron" is much less in percentage terms than it was with the spread of the "delta" strain.

Research also shows that Omicron is likely to outcompete all other strains due to its infectivity. “If this happens, the number of severe cases of COVID-19 will decrease, and the nature of the infection may change, become less destructive for individuals and for society as a whole,” the researchers say.

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