Daily Record

Omicron data gives new hope

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

PEOPLE who catch Omicron are less likely to be hospitalis­ed than with those with the Delta strain, Scots scientists have said.

The findings in the report by experts at Edinburgh and Strathclyd­e universiti­es have been cautiously welcomed.

The study published yesterday said the risk of hospitalis­ation for those with Omicron is two-thirds lower than with Delta.

Dr Jim McMenamin, the national Covid incident director for Public Health Scotland, said it was a “qualified good-news story”.

He added: “The potentiall­y serious impact of Omicron on a population cannot be underestim­ated.

“And a smaller proportion of a much greater number of cases that might ultimately require treatment can still mean a substantia­l number of people who may experience severe Covid infections that could lead to potential hospitalis­ation.”

Authors of the paper, which is yet to be peer reviewed, said if Omicron had been like Delta in Scotland, they would have seen around 47 people in hospital suffering from the virus but, so far, there are 15.

But Prof Mark Woolhouse, of the University of Edinburgh, said data is based on a small number of cases and didn’t reflect those most at risk, the over-65s.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “This is encouragin­g early data – hopefully confidence will build as we get more data.”

Jackie Baillie, Labour’s health spokeswoma­n, added: “The findings drive home the need for us to keep ramping up the booster and the early signs of reduced severity is very welcome.”

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