Prognosis
Omicron Study in U.K. Bolsters Evidence of Lower Hospital Risks
- Research adds a caveat: boosters’ effectiveness wanes rapidly
- Findings offer a ray of hope as variant races across world
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Omicron appears to be less severe but more contagious than any other Covid-19 strain to date, a U.K. government study concluded, bolstering research that has shown a lower risk of hospitalization from the fast-spreading variant.
People infected with omicron are 50% to 70% less likely than those with delta to be admitted to hospitals, the U.K. Health Security Agency said Thursday. Omicron patients are also 31% to 45% less likely to arrive at emergency departments than those with delta.