ROME - "
In Italy the percentage of the Omicron variant is growing strongly
, which from an estimate based on the preliminary analyzes of the swabs collected for the rapid survey on December 20 could be
around 28%
, but with strong regional variability".
This was announced by the Istituto Superiore di Sanita '.
The analysis was based on approximately 2 thousand swabs collected in 18 regions / PPAA.
Even if the results are still preliminary, "
the estimate confirms the great speed of diffusion of the variant
, which seems to give very widespread outbreaks in a short time and is about to become a majority in a short time, as is already happening in several other European countries" he explains. the president of the ISS Silvio Brusaferro.
"On the basis of the available data, the weapons available are vaccination, with a timely third dose, and individual and collective measures to limit the spread of the virus, masks to limit contacts and gatherings".
Omicron cases double every two days
Comparing the results of the flash survey conducted with the collection of samples on 6 December and those released today, the doubling time of the omicron variant is about two days "in line with that already found in other European countries".
A more precise indication on the prevalence estimates will come from the completion of the flash survey, the results of which will arrive on 29 December, while a new flash survey is already scheduled for 3 January to strictly assess the evolution of the epidemiological situation.