The rapid spread of the omicron variant of Covid-19 is forcing governments worldwide to impose strict containment measures, but there are some glimmers of hope in the data available so far
The WHO has warned that omicron infections are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in areas with community transmission, and the variant has now been detected in at least 89 countries.
Recent data from South Africa — where the strain first emerged — along with a study from Hong Kong and developments from vaccine manufacturers, seem to point to some potential elements of good news amid the overarching dangers. While it is still too early to know for sure the severity of the variant, studies so far indicate that the damage it causes is likely to be at worst akin to previous variants, and possibly milder.
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