A recent study has revealed two findings, one negative and the other positive, regarding the new variant of the coronavirus known as "Omicron." According to the study conducted by Discovery Health, the largest health insurance company in South Africa, the "Omicron" variant spreads more rapidly than the original virus and previous variants, but it is less likely to cause severe symptoms in infected individuals.
The researchers found that the risk of hospitalization was 29% lower for "Omicron" patients compared to those infected during the first wave of COVID-19 in South Africa in the spring of 2020. The study also determined that the Pfizer vaccine was 70% effective in protecting "Omicron" patients from hospitalization, but its effectiveness did not exceed 33% regarding the likelihood of infection.
The results appear promising for South Africa, where "Omicron" was first detected, but they provide information only about the initial weeks following the emergence of "Omicron." Ryan Noach, CEO of Discovery Health, stated, "National data shows a massive increase in new infections during the first three weeks of the Omicron wave, indicating a highly contagious variant rapidly spreading in the community." However, the company's analysis suggested that the symptoms of "Omicron" are less severe compared to previous variants.
For patients with the new variant, the risk of hospitalization was 29% lower than that of "COVID-19" patients in South Africa. This data aligns with reports from doctors in the country, indicating that most "Omicron" cases are mild and patients recover within days.
The study also found that "Omicron" is more capable of infecting individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 than any other variant. Shirley Coley, the head of health analytics at the company, said, "Overall, the risk of reinfection has increased, as Omicron has led to much higher rates of reinfection compared to previous variants."
The "Omicron" variant was first identified in South Africa and Botswana in late November, and since then, approximately 13,000 cases have been reported in 77 countries.
