Scottish Study Shows Omicron Hospital Risk Two-Thirds Below Delta

(Bloomberg) Infection with the omicron variant of Covid-19 is far less likely to land patients in the hospital than cases involving the delta strain, according to early study data out of Scotland.

• The study suggests omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of hospitalization when compared to the earlier variant, though it’s also more contagious.
• The study adds to other preliminary findings, including in South Africa, showing that the new strain is less likely to cause severe illness.
• “Although preliminary, these national data should provide reassurance that omicron is substantially less likely to result in severe outcomes than delta,” the report said, adding that further studies are needed.
• There is no public link to the study yet.