A massive studying involving more than 1.5 million COVID infections in England provides “clear evidence” Omicron is less deadly than Delta, British scientists are reporting — evidence they say bolsters the case for dropping COVID restrictions.
After adjusting for age and other factors, people with Omicron had a 59 per cent lower risk of being admitted to hospital, and a 69 per cent lower risk of dying, compared to people infected with Delta. The risk of hospitalization was significantly higher for the unvaccinated. But even among unvaccinated cases, the risk of ending up in hospital was 70 per cent lower, and the risk of death 80 per cent lower, if infected with Omicron compared to unvaccinated people infected with Delta, compelling evidence, the researchers said, that Omicron is intrinsically less severe than Delta.Article content
Vaccines were somewhat less effective at keeping people with breakthrough Omicron infections out of hospital compared to breakthrough Delta cases. But the risk of hospitalization was much higher for the unvaccinated, and the boosted were the most protected: Those vaccinated with three doses were 80 per cent less likely to be admitted to hospital or die than the unvaccinated.
Mmmm timbits