Omicron variant, 26 cases in Italy: infections increase for Delta

In Italy there are 26 cases of the Omicron variant. The covid epidemic is driven by the Delta variant, responsible for the infections as explained today by the Director General of Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Gianni Rezza. “The Delta variant is still predominant in our country, but the Omicron variant is also starting to circulate in other European countries, the characteristics of which are still being studied. As regards our country, 26 cases of this have been reported so far. variant, “he says. “Given the epidemiological situation and the circulation of emerging variants, it is important to continue to maintain prudent behavior. It is also important to strengthen the quarantine measure for close contacts of cases and above all to accelerate the vaccination campaign with the booster dose”, he adds. the incidence of Covid cases in our country is growing, 176 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants; the RT is stable at 1.18 – highlights – The occupancy rate of places in the medical and intensive care areas is respectively 10.6% and 8.5%, below, albeit slightly, the critical threshold which is instead exceeded in at least 3 regions “. “The Delta variant is still the most present on the territory, in several regions the circulation of Delta plus is being monitored and cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in several regions”, says Silvio Brusaferro, president of the Higher Institute of Health and spokesperson for the CTS. “It should be noted that the” Omicron “cases are largely attributable to people who have had close contacts or who come from areas such as South Africa”, explains Brusaferro. “The Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2 is a certainty to be addressed. . We said in August that it would change the cards in relation to the pandemic, and it did. Delta is the certainty against which we must take containment measures. Omicron, on the other hand, is currently a doubt, an uncertainty, a danger “, is the distinction made by Walter Ricciardi, advisor to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza and professor of Hygiene at the Catholic University of Rome. For Omicron, however,” we must be extremely careful because where it is present it has spread rapidly frightening. Even 4 or 5 times higher than the Delta that had already impressed us. And if that were the case, it would be very worrying “.