In laboratory tests in the metropolitan area, a variant of Omicron has been detected in about 70 percent of all Covid infections in the last week of 2021. The results obtained so far also suggest that antigen tests may be less effective in detecting Omicron than other variants at the onset of symptoms.

One of the most significant differences between Omicron and other variants is its transmission speed. The researchers estimate that Omicron spreads about twice as fast as the Delta variant. This means that the number of infections doubles about every two days.

“Omicron’s transfer speed is in a class of its own. It is spreading faster than any previous version of Covid,” he said. Asko Järvinen, Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases in Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS).

During viral epidemics, spikes usually last about eight weeks, but Järvinen said he believes Omicron may have a shorter and stronger spike.

“I think Omicron’s biggest peak will be in Uusimaa in January. That’s how fast it will go through the entire population.”

Compared to other variants, antigen tests may also be less effective in detecting the Omicron variant at the onset of symptoms.

“For this reason, the antigen test should be done two to three days after the onset of symptoms,” Järvinen said.

Although there are reports that Omicron’s symptoms are milder than with other variants, there is no medical consensus. Symptoms may vary depending on whether the person has recovered from a Covid infection or whether they have been vaccinated against the virus.

By Tytti Vuorinen, According to the chief virologist of Turku University Central Hospital, Omicron patients have reported loss of sense of smell in fewer people than with other variants.

“The most common symptoms of Omicron have been respiratory infections. In hospital, we have often seen an elevated immune response due to the symptoms, not so much the virus itself,” Vuorinen explained.

Vuorinen suggested that the virus could have mutated into a variant that causes a milder version of the disease.

“We’ve found that Omicron increases mostly in the upper respiratory tract, so the disease is milder than when it causes a lower respiratory tract infection or pneumonia,” he explained.

Information on how often Omicron patients require hospitalization is not yet available.

Preliminary laboratory studies seem to suggest that the majority of new Covid infections treated at Espoo health centers are Omicron, but only a small proportion of samples have been confirmed.

“Based on our limited experience, the symptoms of Omicron appear to be similar to those of previous virus variants and may be even milder,” he said. Topi Turunen, Doctor of Infectious Diseases of the City of Espoo.