Scotland reports fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations with Omicron than Delta
December 23, 2021, 9:00 am

Scotland reports fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations with Omicron than Delta

Group of women in COVID time-Pixabay

The Financedigest as per Reuters reported, that in Scotland, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus appears less likely to result in COVID-19 hospitalization than Delta, according to an analysis of early data that was posted ahead of peer review on Wednesday.

The updated statistics agree with data released earlier on Wednesday from South Africa and from England, also in advance of peer review.

At the University of Edinburgh, researchers tracked nearly 152,500 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including 22,205 infected with the Omicron variant. Half of the Omicron-infected patients were under age 40.

The number of Omicron patients who needed to be hospitalized was 68% lower than what the researchers would have expected, based on the rate in patients infected with Delta.

Laboratory-COVID-19 vaccine test/Pixabay

The study only included patients diagnosed at primary care practices, however. It did not include patients who got tested for COVID-19 in National Health Service laboratories, who account for most of the patients admitted to hospitals, according to the report.

The Scottish researchers estimated that 7.6% of the Omicron cases were reinfections, compared with only 0.7% of infections caused by Delta. They also found that a third dose of vaccine provided “considerable additional protection against symptomatic disease.”

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At Imperial College London, researchers who earlier this week reported no less severe disease with Omicron than with Delta have now said they saw evidence over the last two weeks of a 40% to 45% reduction in the risk of hospitalization for Omicron relative to Delta infections.

Researchers in both countries said they see evidence that vaccines remain effective at preventing severe illness with Omicron and that booster doses significantly improve the waning protection from the initial two doses.

Experts warn that efforts to determine the “severity” of Omicron are hampered by differing levels of immunity from vaccination and previous infection both among countries and within countries, now and when Delta was peaking.

They also warn that longer studies of Omicron infections in broader populations are needed.

Source: financedigest

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”