Omicron is that percentage less likely to cause death than previous variants

Omicron is the latest COVID-19 variant responsible for unleashing a wave of viral infections that have infected most parts of the country. As of this writing, the vast majority of reported cases are from Omicron infections.

Despite this large number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalization rates and deaths are not in line with previous variants. New research suggests this is because Omicron is 91% less likely to cause deaths.

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The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), included 70,000 COVID-19 patients in California and showed that Omicron is less deadly and less likely to result in hospitalizations. Even those who had Omicron and were hospitalized likely recovered sooner than those infected with the Delta variant.

“Reduced disease severity associated with Omicron variant infections was evident in both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, and in patients with or without documented prior SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the study authors explain.

Study details include that those infected with Omicron are 75% less likely to require critical care and that hospitalized patients require an average of 1.5 days of treatment compared to patients in the past who required an average of five days of treatment. None of the Omicron subjects required ventilation, a remarkable fact given the number of subjects whose data was analyzed.

“We may be seeing deaths from Omicron, but I suspect the deaths we’re seeing now are still from Delta,” CDC director Rachelle Wolensky said in a statement.

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Despite the encouraging news, Wolensky says people should remain vigilant about the virus and monitor their behavior accordingly to ensure the safety of the elderly, the immunocompromised and more. That being said, it’s important to consider the strain on your state’s healthcare system, which is likely higher than usual based on the numbers the Omicron variant is producing.