Russian Virologist on the Omicron Variant

A patient infected with the coronavirus may die three weeks after the disease is identified, according to Anatoly Altshtein, a virologist at the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia. He spoke to Kommersant, highlighting that there is no need to expect high mortality rates or severe disease courses from the Omicron variant.

“Typically, when a person gets infected with the coronavirus, they tend to die around 3-4 weeks later. If we believe recent reports about a surge in cases in the UK, where the Omicron variant has penetrated, it means we should wait three weeks to understand what is happening with those individuals. I believe nothing will happen to them,” the doctor stated.

It should be noted that the Omicron variant was first identified in the southern African countries in late November and has since spread to nearly eighty countries.