Scientists see threefold higher risk of reinfection from Omicron

The new Omicron variant of the coronavirus poses a threefold higher risk of reinfection than the currently dominant Delta variant and the Beta strain, a group of South African health bodies said, Report informs, citing Reuters.

The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the latest findings "provide epidemiological evidence for Omicron's ability to evade immunity from prior infection".

An increase of reinfections rather than new infections would be an indication the new variant has developed the ability to evade natural immunity from the previous infection, it said.