Here's the latest variant picture for BA.1 (Omicron) with the Spike R346K mutation. That mutation helps with immunity escape.
This combination was recently identified as a new sub-lineage BA.1.1, but that will take some time to filter through to databases and websites.
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The global analysis (above) of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation shows it's frequency was low, but has been steadily increasing (as a proportion of all BA.1 samples).
In the United Kingdom, the frequency of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been steadily growing, recently at ~25% (of all BA.1 samples).
Samples from Switzerland show BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been quite frequent: ~50% (of all BA.1 samples).
In the USA, the frequency of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been steadily growing, recently at ~40-50% (of all BA.1 samples).
Japan's Omicron outbreak has predominantly been BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation, recently at 90-100% (of all BA.1 samples).
Kenya's Omicron outbreak has predominantly been BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation, recently at 90-100% (of all BA.1 samples).
Here's my weekly analysis of cases, deaths, vaccinations and restrictions.
At the global level, Omicron has driven an amazing surge in the last 2 weeks.
I've added a % Positive chart - this helps to spot when testing is overwhelmed (so infections are likely under-reported).
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Australia is one of the worst affected countries (on a population basis). Restrictions were dropped in mid-December, ignoring the risk from multiple Omicron super-spreader events.
Testing has effectively collapsed - % Positive has soared to 31%, many infections are undiscovered.
In Denmark, both the cases and % positive appear to have peaked.
Deaths are at ~100 per week or ~170 per 10M. But as they typically lag cases by 3 weeks, we can expect them to increase, sadly.
Victoria time-shifted distribution update for 10 Jan 22:
A forecast of outcomes from severe COVID-19, based on active cases:
- hospitalisations (2,210* by 15 Jan)
- ICU (737 by 20 Jan*)
- cases needing ventilation (246 by 25 Jan*)
- deaths (2,304 by 30 Jan)
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* As actual numbers had drifted from the forecasts for some series, I've adjusted the settings:
- hospitalisations now 0.9% (was 1.4%)
- ICU now 0.3% with 10-day lag (was 8-day)
- ventilation now 0.1% with 15-day lag (was 10-day)
A big drop in the hospitalisation % - good news!
The lags for ICU and ventilation have now returned to their pre-Delta settings, which appear to give a closer fit.
New South Wales time-shifted distribution update for 10 Jan 22:
A forecast of outcomes from severe COVID-19, based on active cases:
- hospitalisations (3,387* by 15 Jan)
- ICU (677 by 20 Jan*)
- cases needing ventilation (339 by 25* Jan)
- deaths (3,291 by 30 Jan)
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* As gaps were opening up between the actual and forecast for some series, I've adjusted the % Expected:
- hospitalisations now 1.0% (was 1.4%)
- ICU now 0.2% with 10-day lag (was 8-day)
- ventilation now 0.1% with 15-day lag (was 10-day)
The lags for ICU and ventilation have now returned to their pre-Delta settings, which appears to give a closer fit.