Frequency of the Ómicron variant in Portugal estimated at 46.9%
According to data released by the Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA).
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has grown exponentially in the proportion of probable cases in the last two weeks in Portugal, with an estimated proportion of 46.9% on Monday, according to data released this Tuesday by the Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA).
“The data obtained since December 15th consolidate the perspective that the Ómicron variant will be dominant (greater than 50%) in Portugal this week (20th to 26th December), in parallel with the scenario observed in other countries such as , for example, Denmark and the United Kingdom, “advances the weekly report of the INSA on the genetic diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the country.
The most recent INSA report on the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 states that, based on nationwide weekly random sampling classifies viral genome sequencing, this variant recorded in week 48 (November 29 to December 5; analysis completed and in week 49 (December 6th to 12th; data in progress) relative frequencies of 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively.
“This result overlooked a low circulation of the Omicron variant in late November/early December, in stark contrast to the abrupt increase in circulation of this variant estimated for the following days, based on the real-time monitoring strategy of the ‘failure’ in detection of the S gene, “advances.
According to the INSA, “the use of this criterion has allowed to identify, since December 6th, an exponential growth in the proportion of probable cases, having reached an estimated estimate of 46.9% on December 20th”.
Covid-19 has caused more than 5.35 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest report by Agence France-Presse.
In Portugal, since March 2020, 18,796 people have died and 1,227,854 cases of infection have been recorded, according to data from the General Directorate of Health.
The respiratory disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, detected in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city in central China, and currently with variants identified in several countries.
The new variant, Omicron, classified as concerned by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been detected in southern Africa, but since the South African health authorities raised the alert on 24 November, infections have been reported in at least 89 countries from all continents, including Portugal.