The Omicron variant was estimated to be 58.6 per cent of the COVID-19 variants circulating in the USA as of Dec. 25, in line with information from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.
The company additionally revised down the Omicron proportion of circumstances for the week ending Dec. 18 to 22 per cent from 73 per cent, citing extra information and the fast unfold of the variant that partially brought on the discrepancy.
“We had extra information are available from that timeframe and there was a diminished proportion of Omicron,” a CDC spokesperson mentioned. “It’s necessary to notice that we’re nonetheless seeing a gentle improve within the proportion of Omicron.”
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The fast-spreading variant was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November, with the primary identified case in the USA recognized on Dec. 1 in a completely vaccinated one who had traveled to South Africa.
Since then, the pressure has quickly unfold internationally and pushed a surge in U.S. infections, inflicting widespread flight cancellations and dashing hopes for a extra regular vacation season.
The Delta variant, which had been the dominant pressure up to now few months, accounts for 41.1 per cent of all U.S. COVID-19 circumstances as of Dec. 25, the general public well being company’s information confirmed.
Former U.S. Meals and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on Twitter that if the CDC’s new estimate of Omicron prevalence was exact, then it suggests {that a} good portion of the present hospitalizations should still be pushed by Delta infections.
The company mentioned the information contains modeled projection that will differ from weighted estimates generated at later dates.
(Reporting by Ankur Banerjee; Enhancing by Aditya Soni and Shailesh Kuber)
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