The omicron strain was found to be three times more infectious than other COVID-19 variants, including delta. This is reported by the MedRxiv portal with reference to specialists from the Center for Epidemiological Modeling and Analysis of South Africa.
Scientists have confirmed that omicron can bypass immunity to coronavirus in naturally immune patients – that is, those who have had COVID-19 and have not been vaccinated. “The risk of re-infection with the omicron strain is three times higher than the previous variants,” experts say. Recovering and receiving antibodies no longer provide protection against the new version of the coronavirus. “We are seeing an increase in the number of people who have previously defeated the coronavirus who are re-ill with COVID-19 as a result of the spread of the omicron strain,” said Anne von Gottberg, an employee of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases.
Fully vaccinated patients can also become infected with Omicron : for example, the first case of infection with a new US strain occurred in a person who received the full vaccine complex.
Who is at risk?
- Children under two years old;
- Adults from 20 to 39 years old;
- Patients with chronic diseases;
- Aged people.
Earlier, the World Health Organization has already warned that omicron increases the risk of re-infection among those who have recovered from COVID-19, but until this moment there was not enough reason to assert about the greater danger of the new strain relative to the same delta.
