Research into Omicron variant begins as cases increase

South African researchers reported people infected once with Covid-19 were more likely to be reinfected with the Omicron variant than the Beta or Delta Covid variants.

The preprint (yet to be peer-reviewed) stated, “Population-level evidence suggests that the Omicron variant is associated with substantial ability to evade immunity from prior infection.”

The study further stated, “In contrast, there is no population-wide epidemiological evidence of immune escape associated with the Beta or Delta variants.”

WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, tweeted about Omicron, “More studies are needed to fully understand all its properties.”

The CDC is doing an in-depth investigation of the first few detected cases of Omicron to understand the transmission and severity of the disease caused by it.