"65% of Omicron Variant Infected Patients Previously Had COVID-19, UK Study Shows"

Possibility of Detecting Residual Virus from Past Infection Rather Than Reinfection

A study in the UK found that two-thirds of Omicron variant infections occurred in individuals who had previously contracted COVID-19.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A study in the UK found that about 65% of COVID-19 Omicron variant infected individuals had previously contracted COVID-19.

According to UK media The Guardian and others, Imperial College London announced on the 26th (local time) that two-thirds of participants who tested positive for the Omicron variant in the England COVID-19 spread survey study 'REACT-1' had previously been confirmed positive.

This study was conducted by distributing about 100,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits to randomly selected participants from January 5 to 20, then collecting and analyzing them.

The results showed that 99% of COVID-19 infections were the Omicron variant, and two out of three people (65%) had previously tested positive for COVID-19.

However, it is also possible that these were not reinfections but remnants of past viral infections detected by the PCR test.

During the study period, the infection rate was 4.41%, the highest since the study began in May 2020. This is more than three times the 1.40% in December, when one in 70 people was infected, meaning one in 23 people was infected.

By age group, the infection rate was highest among students aged 5 to 11 at 7.81%, and lowest among those aged 75 and older at 2.43%. However, the infection rate among the elderly increased about 12 times compared to a month ago.

Professor Paul Elliott of Imperial College said, "Infections rapidly decreased in January but remain at an extremely high level and recently seem to have plateaued at a high level. In particular, the increase in infections among children attending school after reopening and those aged 65 and older by 7 to 12 times is concerning."