Global Omicron tally crosses one lakh, hospitalisation remains low

According to researchers at the University of Hong Kong, Omicron infects up to 70 times faster than earlier variants.

With the addition of more than 15,000 new cases in the United Kingdom alone, the global tally of Omicron cases goes past 100,000 now. The UK and Denmark account for most Omicron cases at the moment. The new variant is reported to have claimed 16 lives globally. Only two weeks back in the United States, Omicron was found in nearly 1 per cent of the total sequenced Covid-19 cases, but now make up 73 per cent in the week ending December 18.

Omicron infects up to 70 times faster than earlier variants, researchers at the University of Hong Kong said. As of December 21, the variant was confirmed in 106 countries, according to a World Health Organizsation report. The efficacy of vaccines against Omicron is still unknown.