A new study has confirmed that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus replicates in airway tissues 70 times faster than the Delta variant. The study, reported by the British newspaper "The Guardian," was conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Hong Kong, and it involved collecting samples from the airway tissues of several individuals infected with Omicron and several with Delta.
Upon laboratory examination of these tissues for 24 hours, researchers found that the Omicron variant multiplied about 70 times more than Delta. Although the airway is not part of the upper respiratory tract, scientists indicated that the rapid replication of the virus in this area could lead to easier transmission of the virus. However, researchers also noted that the new variant grew 10 times slower in lung tissues, which they suggested could be an indicator of reduced disease severity.
Michael Chan Chi-wai, who led the study, mentioned that the findings should be interpreted with caution, as severe disease is not only determined by the speed of virus replication but also by the individual's immune response. This study followed a statement by Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indicating that preliminary data suggests Omicron is more transmissible than Delta.
Walensky noted in a White House briefing that officials have started monitoring an increase in COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated residents of nursing homes, with infection rates among those who received booster shots being ten times lower. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization estimated that Omicron is spreading at an unprecedented rate in most countries, urging them to utilize all available measures against COVID-19 to avoid overwhelming hospitals.
Global COVID-19 cases have exceeded 271.58 million, with deaths reaching 5 million and 625 thousand worldwide.
