OMICRON-INFECTED individuals have a 75% less chance of being hospitalised than Delta-infected individuals, reported news agency Xinhua.

Omicron-infected patients have on average shorter hospital stays and a lower risk of dying from the disease, according to a study carried out by the National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge and Portuguese Directorate-General for Health.

This reduced risk is true “regardless of the age, sex or vaccination status” of the patient, and is not affected by whether or not they have previously been infected with Covid-19, said the study.

The study’s research was conducted on people residing in Portugal in December last year.

The study’s authors, however, warn that Omicron is more resistant to vaccination, which makes it highly transmissible and explains the higher number of cases.

Portugal recorded 47,199 new Covid-19 cases and 50 deaths in the last 24 hours. – Bernama, February 5, 2022.