The preliminary findings of South African research into the Omicron strain of COVID-19 support initial observations that it causes less severe symptoms than previous variants of the respiratory illness.
The research was undertaken by the South African Medical Research Council and the nation’s largest health insurance fund, Discover Health. The researchers also found that the Omicron variant appears to be more easily transmitted, while the risk of hospitalisation is lower than previous variants.
The research, which has not been peer-reviewed, also suggests that the Pfizer vaccine appears to offer less defence against infection from the Omicron variant but reduces the risk of hospitalisation.
