Omicron variant 37.5% more infectious than Delta: experts

A team at Nankai University in mainland China recently found that the Omicron coronavirus variant is about 37.5% more infectious compared to the Delta variant.

A research team led by Huang Senzhong, a professor of the Faculty of Statistics and Data Science at Nankai university, studied the daily confirmed diagnosis data of the Omicron variant from Oct. 18 to Nov. 28, 2021 in South Africa and used EpiSIX to simulate the average latent period and infectious period of Omicron and Delta to reach the above conclusion.

Huang's team also predicted that by January 1, 2022, the number of new confirmed cases in South Africa is expected to reach 51,000-72,000.

As of Monday (Nov. 29), three imported cases involving the Omicron variant have been recorded in Hong Kong. Ho Pak-leung, Director of the Infection and Infectious Diseases Center of the University of HK, predicted at a radio program today that the Omicron variant virus will change rapidly in the next one to two weeks.

He suggested that the HK government should adopt a stringent quarantine policy before fully grasping the characteristics of the Omicron variant, and that all arrivals from high-risk areas should be quarantined at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre for 21 days.

According to Ho, the genetic sequencing abnormality of the Omicron variant is expected to significantly reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines. As the Christmas and New Year holidays are approaching, there will be a large number of students returning to HK. In light of this, Ho suggested that the government should pay special attention to whether there is a local outbreak in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, so as to make timely arrangements.

Secretary for Food and Health, Chan Siu-chee, said that the three cases of Omicron virus recorded in Hong Kong were identified at the airport and in quarantine, and were "successfully intercepted" before reaching the community.

She said she does not see any impact of Omicron variant cases on the boundary reopening agenda between Hong Kong and the Mainland for the time being.