Omicron: a mysterious variant of concern

Omicron (B.1.1.529), a highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant, has emerged in the south of African continent in the November 2021. The spike protein of Omicron has 26 amino acid mutations, which makes it distinct from the other variants of concern. Researches are underway to know the virulence and transmission rate of Omicron variant. In this letter, the seven-day moving average of most affected Omicron variant countries Denmark, Germany, India, Netherlands, South Africa and UK has been investigated and compared with each other. Further, the seven-day average of daily positive Omicron cases of the prescribed countries has been predicted for the months of December 2021, January 2022 and February 2022 using the fractal interpolation method. Results elucidate that the curve of daily positive case follows the same pattern even though the new variant of concern, Omicron added in the existing variants.

Automated summary

This letter investigates the transmission of the Omicron variant in countries such as Denmark, Germany, India, Netherlands, South Africa, and the UK. Using fractal interpolation method, the study predicts the daily positive cases of Omicron for the coming months. The results show that despite the emergence of the new variant, the pattern of daily positive cases remains consistent.