COVID-19 Omicron Variant of Concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified B.1.1.529 (omicron), first detected in South Africa, as a COVID-19 variant of concern.

One model from the Financial Times suggests the omicron variant is 500% more transmissible than the delta variant.

See also:

• The COVID-19 Delta variant is 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant

Links to this note

• Vaccinated People Have a 50% Lower Risk of Developing Long COVID

  According to recent studies in the UK, Israel, and US, those who are vaccinated have, on average, a 50% lower risk of developing long COVID.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Is 33 Percent Effective Against Omicron

  A study of 211,000 COVID-19 cases and 78,000 Omicron variant cases found that the vaccine is only 33% effective at preventing infection by 70% effective at preventing hospitalization.

• NYC Mandates Employee Vaccination for Large Employers

  In anticipation of a wave of cases due to the COVID-19 omicron variant, NYC requires private employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccination for in-person workers. Every worker must have their first vaccine does by December 27, 2021.

• Remote Work Hasn’t Prevented People from Getting Omicron

  While remote work is obviously better for reducing exposure to COVID-19 than going to the office, the rapid increase in Omicron cases shows that remote work has little impact on reducing Omicron case counts. Anecdotally, several people I’ve worked with over the last two weeks have gotten it—all vaccinated and working from home.

• The US Army Developed a Vaccine Effective Against All Variants of COVID-19

  Now in clinical trials, Walter Reed researchers have developed a vaccine that appears to be effective against all strains COVID-19. Since our primary defence against COVID has been vaccination, this is a huge boon with the rise of a highly contagious omicron variant with vaccine escape (Pfizer and Moderna).