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Abstract

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron was first detected in Italy in November 2021.

Aim

To comprehensively describe Omicron spread in Italy in the 2 subsequent months and its impact on the overall SARS-CoV-2 circulation at population level.

Methods

We analyse data from four genomic surveys conducted across the country between December 2021 and January 2022. Combining genomic sequencing results with epidemiological records collated by the National Integrated Surveillance System, the Omicron reproductive number and exponential growth rate are estimated, as well as SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility.

Results

Omicron became dominant in Italy less than 1 month after its first detection, representing on 3 January 76.9–80.2% of notified SARS-CoV-2 infections, with a doubling time of 2.7–3.3 days. As of 17 January 2022, Delta variant represented < 6% of cases. During the Omicron expansion in December 2021, the estimated mean net reproduction numbers respectively rose from 1.15 to a maximum of 1.83 for symptomatic cases and from 1.14 to 1.36 for hospitalised cases, while remaining relatively stable, between 0.93 and 1.21, for cases needing intensive care. Despite a reduction in relative proportion, Delta infections increased in absolute terms throughout December contributing to an increase in hospitalisations. A significant reproduction numbers’ decline was found after mid-January, with average estimates dropping below 1 between 10 and 16 January 2022.

Conclusion

Estimates suggest a marked growth advantage of Omicron compared with Delta variant, but lower disease severity at population level possibly due to residual immunity against severe outcomes acquired from vaccination and prior infection.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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2022-11-10
2024-12-21
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Tracking the progressive spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Italy, December 2021 to January 2022
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Paola+Stefanelli&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Stefanelli Paola</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Filippo+Trentini&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Trentini Filippo</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Daniele+Petrone&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Petrone Daniele</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Alessia+Mammone&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Mammone Alessia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Luigina+Ambrosio&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Ambrosio Luigina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mattia+Manica&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Manica Mattia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Giorgio+Guzzetta&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Guzzetta Giorgio</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Valeria+d%26apos%3BAndrea&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">d&apos;Andrea Valeria</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Valentina+Marziano&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Marziano Valentina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Agnese+Zardini&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Zardini Agnese</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Carla+Molina+Grane%E2%80%99&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Molina Grane’ Carla</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Marco+Ajelli&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Ajelli Marco</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Angela+Di+Martino&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Di Martino Angela</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Flavia+Riccardo&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Riccardo Flavia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Antonino+Bella&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bella Antonino</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Monica+Sane+Schepisi&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sane Schepisi Monica</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Francesco+Maraglino&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Maraglino Francesco</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Piero+Poletti&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Poletti Piero</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Anna+Teresa+Palamara&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Palamara Anna Teresa</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Silvio+Brusaferro&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Brusaferro Silvio</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Giovanni+Rezza&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Rezza Giovanni</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Patrizio+Pezzotti&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pezzotti Patrizio</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Stefano+Merler&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Merler Stefano</a>, <a href="/search?value1=the+Genomic+SARS%E2%80%93CoV%E2%80%932+National+Surveillance+Working+Group&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">the Genomic SARS–CoV–2 National Surveillance Working Group</a>, <a href="/search?value1=the+Italian+Integrated+Surveillance+of+COVID%E2%80%9319+Study+Group&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">the Italian Integrated Surveillance of COVID–19 Study Group</a></span>. Tracking the progressive spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Italy, December 2021 to January 2022. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2022;27(45):pii=2200125. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.45.2200125" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.45.2200125</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 02 Feb 2022;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 03 Aug 2022 </span> </p>
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