Omicron, UK study of one million cases: hospitalization risk of one third higher than delta version

According to a study conducted in the UK in recent weeks, the risk of hospitalization with the Omicron variant is about a third of the risk of the delta variant.
The United Kingdom is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the type identified in South Africa, which is highly transmitted: 189,846 daily infections as of Friday 31 December, for example. Hospitalizations are also rising, but information released by the British government authorizes optimism: the Omicron variant will be lighter than Delta’s.

This is all based on an analysis published by the UK Health Security Agency, which worked with Cambridge University’s MRC Biostatistics Unit on 528,176 omicron cases and 573,012 delta cases. In contrast to the previous high levels of the epidemic, the number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation remained stable during December. Studies show that vaccines may work well against omicrons. Ukhsa said, “The risk of hospitalization for omicron cases with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection after 2 and 3 doses of the vaccine is low, with an 81% reduction in the risk of hospitalization after 3 doses. “

Susan Hopkins, the agency’s chief medical adviser, said the analysis is in line with other encouraging signs on Omicron, specifying that the health service is still grappling with high transmission rates. “It is too early to draw firm conclusions on the severity and increased communicability of Omicron and the increase in cases in the over 60 population in England means it is highly likely that there will be significant strain on the health system in the coming weeks,” said the daily on Friday. The data update showed 12,395 patients in the hospital, up from 11,542 on Thursday, in a strong upward trend. However, this figure is well below the peak of over 34,000 in January.

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