Challenges in Inferring Intrinsic Severity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in southern Africa has experienced three distinct waves, driven by different variants. The recently identified Omicron variant has rapidly spread in South Africa and to numerous countries, raising global concern.

Summary: A study in England found that patients with COVID-19 infected with the delta variant were more likely to be admitted to hospital or attend emergency care compared to those infected with the alpha variant. This suggests that outbreaks of the delta variant in unvaccinated populations may pose a greater burden on healthcare services.