Optimistic messages about the evolution of the Omicron variant, because of which the global community has been in turmoil lately, comes from a new study conducted in South Africa, the epicentre of the new - highly contagious - strain of coronavirus.
Although "Omicron" reportedly causes mild symptomatology, it is still a burden on health systems and is responsible for the rapid rise in infections.
The official number of Covid-19 cases, which is certainly lower than the actual number, passed the 300 million mark on Friday as countries attempt to fight the spread of Omicron and escalate vaccination campaigns.
According to the study's conclusion, the acute phase of the pandemic may be over very soon.
What the study showed
As Bloomberg reports, the current pandemic wave due to Omicron moved at "unprecedented speed" but caused much milder morbidity than previous strains, according to a study of patients infected with Covid-19 at a major South African hospital.
"If this pattern continues and makes its way around the world, we are likely to see a complete decoupling of case and death rates," the researchers said. This suggests that "Omicron may be a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the pandemic, ushering in its endemic phase."
[BR][BR]The study at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital Complex, located in Pretoria, analyzed records of 466 patients from the current wave and 3,976 from previous waves of the virus.
As South Africa has a relatively "young" population compared to other parts of the world and the "lack" of older, more vulnerable individuals could mask the "potential" of the new variant, the researchers cite data from other countries around the world, expressing the view that Omicron generally causes less severe disease than previous mutant strains.
Fewer deaths
"Although Omicron is quite contagious, hospitalizations were fewer compared to previous waves," the researchers noted, while weekly deaths recorded numbers close to a fifth of the record during the pandemic.
If other countries have similar data, it may help make coronavirus endemic, where widespread exposure gives more people immunity.
However, there is always the scenario of a new mutation emerging, which may cause more severe disease and more easily evade antibodies produced by previous infections or vaccination.
The study showed that only 4.5% of Covid-19 patients died during their hospital stay in the current wave compared to an average of 21% in previous waves. Fewer people were admitted to intensive care units and the length of hospital stay was "significantly shorter."
Asymptomatic disease
At the same time, always according to the study, the rate of admissions increased rapidly but began to decline within 33 days of first recording. A "picture" on December 14 and 15 showed that nearly two-thirds of those infected with Covid-19 had been admitted to the hospital for other reasons.
"This phenomenon has not been seen to this extent before at Steve Biko Hospital or anywhere in South Africa," the study notes, noting that it "likely reflects high levels of asymptomatic disease in the community with Omicron infection."
According to the study:
Hospital length of stay averaged 4 days, compared with 8.8 in previous waves[BR]
The average age of those admitted was 39 years, compared with 50 in previous waves[BR]
Intensive care unit admissions decreased to 1% of patients from 4,3%
Admissions peaked at 108, compared to 213 during the Delta wave
There was a lower admission per case ratio, lower mortality rate and lower ICU admission rates compared to previous waves.
Source: in.gr
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