A new study conducted among other scientists from Harvard Medical School found that the omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is as severe as previous variants and is no longer transmitted but no less severe than previously thought.
Research was based on the records of 130,000 patients with COVID in Massachusetts and conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Minerva together with Harvard and is currently undergoing an expert review of the Nature Portfolio, according to a Reuters report.
But his findings, which assessed the severity of omicron after taking into account the effect of vaccines, underscore the importance of vaccines and boosters, and show that they helped curb hospitalization and death during the omicron surge.
Although unadjusted hospital admission and mortality rates were higher in previous waves compared to the Omicron period, after adjusting for different demographics, Charleson’s comorbidity index and vaccination status (and continued health care use), we found that mortality rates were almost the same between periods, ”the authors write.
“Our analysis shows that the internal severity of the Omicron variant may be as severe as previous variants.”
The study came after an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted earlier this week, found that omicron caused an increase in deaths in January and February among people who were vaccinated. These deaths were mainly among the elderly and people with impaired immune systems, and are believed to have reduced protection against vaccination.
Experts agree that vaccinations and stimulants remain the best protection against serious illness and death, and continue to encourage unvaccinated people to get vaccinated. And there are fears that the initial belief that omicron causes only mild symptoms could convince the vaccine, which is hesitant, that it does not need to be vaccinated.
The study comes at a time when the number of cases continues to rise in the US after their sharp decline at the beginning of the year due to the omicron BA.2 variant and two sub-variants that seem even more infectious. Two, named BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1, were highlighted by New York State health officials recently.
In the U.S., an average of 67,953 cases a day, up 59% from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times tracker. Cases are on the rise in all but four states and territories, and have more than doubled since two weeks ago by more than a dozen, the tracker shows.
The country averaged 18,181 hospitalizations per day, up 20% from two weeks ago but still relatively low. The daily death toll has fallen below an average of 400 to 366.
World Health Organization said Thursday that new estimates show that the total death toll, directly or indirectly from the COVID-19 pandemic between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, is about 15 million.
This figure compares with an estimate provided by Johns Hopkins University of 6.24 million.
Other COVID-19 news you should know about:
• U.S. regulators on Thursday severely restricted who could get the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson because of the rare but serious risk of blood clots, according to the Associated Press. The Food and Drug Administration said vaccination should only be given to adults who cannot get another vaccine or specifically request a Janssen vaccine from J&J
For several months, US authorities have recommended that Americans who begin to vaccinate against COVID-19, use Pfizer
shots instead. The FDA’s head of vaccines, Dr. Peter Marx, said the agency decided to limit the use of the vaccine after reviewing the risk of life-threatening blood clots and concluded that they were limited to the J&J vaccine.
• North Carolina civil servants will receive an additional day off to receive additional assistance against COVID-19, Gov. Roy Cooper announced as the state government uses a new incentive to increase vaccination rates. Separately reported by AP. Cooper signed the order which provides leave to permanent, probationary or time-limited workers whose institutions at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers are subordinate to it. Additional leave will be given to those who have already received the first COVID-19 booster, or to those who will show documents for receipt by 31 August.
• The number of unruly incidents with U.S. air passengers has fallen after a federal judge in Florida revoked a federal mandate. The New York Times reported with reference to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. This was reported by the agency 1.9 incidents per 10,000 flights during the week ended April 24, compared with 4.4 incidents per 10,000 flights the week before. It refused to name the cause of the fall. The CDC continues to encourage people to wear face masks on public transportation and at public transportation hubs, especially as omicron subvariants continue to spread.
• The reluctance of China’s elderly population to do vaccinations challenges the country’s strategy to combat COVID-19, This was reported by the Washington Post. Unlike most of China coronavirus prevention measures, vaccination is not mandatory, and the low prevalence among the country’s most vulnerable groups is the main reason why Communist Party leaders believe forced to continue with grueling “zero COVID” approach. This has led to a strict closure in Shanghai, which is now being softened. Chinese President Xi Jinping said weakening the strategy would now lead to “more infections” and deaths.
Here’s what the numbers say
The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday exceeded 516.2 million and the death toll exceeded 6.24 million. according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University.
The United States leads the world with 81.7 million cases and 996,996 deaths.
The Tracker of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 219.9 million people living in the US are fully vaccinated, which is 66.3% of the total population. But only 101 million are vaccinated, which is 45.9% of the vaccinated population.
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