The risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than that of the Delta strain, researchers from London concluded. According to them, the protection afforded by past infection may be as low as 19 percent. The similar situation can be with subsequent strains of COVID-19. Only vaccination is effective in this case, which can mitigate the course of the disease. At the same time, according to the results of another study, it was found that antibodies in people infected with Omicron increase protection against Delta by more than 4 times. In order to prevent the disease, Kazakh health experts strongly recommend observing sanitary rules and hand hygiene, as well as strengthening the immune system as much as possible.
“One of the negative features of the Omicron variant is that the risk of infection increases 5 times even with one touch. This strain of coronavirus spreads quite quickly. For example, a person can get infected even if he did not have a conversation with a patient, but simply passed by or was nearby. That is why citizens must observe safety measures and wear masks. Opinions that some got vaccinated, have already had the infection and now don’t have to worry for six months are erroneous,” said Yerzhan Baitanayev, Official Representative of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee.
Translation by Saniya Sakenova
Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova
