SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant research updated on Dec 25,2021 Ray Zhang Grade 11 Crescent School, Sunlifegene Academic Program in Medical Science SLAP COVID 19 Research Program Toronto, ON, Canada December 25, 2021

The variant was first discover in South Africa on NOV,2021,, and has been detected in more than 85 nations. It is spreading rapidly in several countries, including Canada, Ontario have new Omicron positive cases  up to 9000 on Dec 23,2021.

 Scientists from South Africa found the SARS-COV2 Omicron (B1.1.529) to be by far the most divergent variant characterized by a high number of mutations. The spike protein of the Omicron Variant has more than 30 mutations. It is extremely important to evaluate the influence of Omicron on the effectiveness of treatments. 

The Scientists from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong first report on how the novel Variant of Concern of SARS-CoV-2, infect human respiratory tract. Researchers discovered that Omicron infects and multiplies up to 70 times faster than the Delta variant. This may explain why Omicron may transmit faster between humans than previous variants. Researchers studies showed that the Omicron infection in the lung is significantly lower than the original variants; thus indicates a lower disease severity.

 On Dec 23, Scientists from University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong conjoined and showed that a third dose of Comirnaty vaccine given to the people who already received two doses of either Comirnaty or CoronaVac provides protectives levels of protective antibody against the Omicron Variant. Meanwhile those who received two previous doses and then received a third dose of CoronaVac prove to not provide adequate levels of protective antibodies. Researchers found that two doses of either Comirnaty or Corona Vac vaccine provide tremendously poor virus killing, also known as neutralising, the antibody responses against the Omicron Variant. The research findings also indicate that a third dose of Comirnaty vaccine given to those who received two previous doses of either Comirnaty or CornoVac provides protective levels of antibody against the omicron variant. Professor David Hui urged those who are able to get, but have not received two doses of vaccine to get vaccinated as a matter of urgency. The severity of the case means that if the virus started spreading in Hong Kong, Unvaccinated people who are highest risk of the severe disease - older age or underlying diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, will be at high risk. Prof. David Hui also pointed out that the reduced severity of Omicron epidemics located in South Africa and the United Kingdom was being reported from vaccinated or previously infected population. Hospitals and intensive care units in affected countries are currently being filled at an exponential rate. 

Reference: 1)https://www.med.hku.hk/en/news/press/20211215-omicron-sars-cov-2-infection 2)HKUMed-CU Medicine joint study finds that third dose of Comirnaty has better protection from COVID-19 variant Omicron https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/23804.html