Study assesses spread, severity of Omicron sub-variants in Amman

AMMAN — Eighty-five per cent of COVID-19 hospital admissions from February 23 to March 5 were related to the Omicron sub-variant BA.2, according to a study conducted by the National Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Centre, in cooperation with the Health Ministry’s Infectious Diseases Department.

The study assessed the spread and severity of the Omicron sub-variant BA.2 in Amman’s hospitals, investigating 290 COVID-19 confirmed cases at Amman Field Hospital, Gardens Hospital and Al Hayat Hospital from February 23 to March 5 of 2022, and followed up the patients until March 28.

The results showed that the Omicron sub-variant  BA.1 accounted for 15 per cent of hospitals’ admissions, while alpha and delta variants were detected  in one patient  in each hospital.

Males accounted for 60 per cent of the respondents and females 40 per cent, with the average age of the sample standing at 59.5 years, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

The proportion of hospital admissions was highest among cases 70 years and above, at 31.1 per cent, followed by cases aged 60-69 and aged 40-59, at 15.8 and 17.9, respectively. 

A previous study, conducted by the centre between December 2021 and January 2022 shows that the Omicron BA.1 infections were recorded among the 25-34 age group, noting that these individuals were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. 

The results of the previous study revealed that 6 per cent of the cases had been previously infected. The percentage of vaccinated people reached 37 per cent. Fatality rates reached 7.8 per cent, with 17 deaths reported.

The time from admission to death reached 6.7 days, according to the study.

According to the study, deaths among hospital admissions associated with Omicron BA.2 are 50 per cent less than they were during the Delta-variant-led waves, during the 37th and 48th epidemiological weeks, during which death rates ranged from 12.4 to 15.1 per cent.