Omicron spikes

Around every corner there seems to be new research on this latest, still-mysterious variant of the coronavirus. Scientists are banging away trying to figure out its secrets but remain far from agreement. To wit: A new study from South Africa lent more weight to early suspicions that while omicron spreads like wildfire, it doesn’t appear to be as severe as delta. Researchers there reported a lower hospitalization rate as compared to previous waves, though with the usual caveat that other nations may have a different experience (witness the U.K. and U.S., where health systems are buckling again). It’s thought that maybe admission rates are low because such a high percentage of South Africans were previously infected. But another report on Friday said previous infection (or just having two vaccine shots) is barely an obstacle to reinfection via omicron, and more darkly that there’s no indication the new variant is any less dangerous than delta. And while the South Africa study said the vast majority who die from omicron are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, research has also shown more vaccinated individuals are being admitted to hospitals than in previous surges. In other words, there are still many unknowns. Here’s the latest on the pandemic. —David E. Rovella

Bloomberg is tracking the coronavirus pandemic and the progress of global vaccination efforts.

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