Amid questions about whether the Omicron variant may cause milder illness compared to the previous strains, evidence from initial cases is limited. However, among 70 cases reported in Europe which provided information on disease severity, half of the patients were asymptomatic and half had mild symptoms, reported the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

No cases of severe disease were reported and there were no hospitalizations or deaths. The European agency; however, said that data on hundreds of cases will be needed to accurately assess the complications, and it could take weeks. Most cases reported in Europe have been in younger people thus far, who were fully vaccinated, and therefore, less likely to develop severe disease… (ET Healthworld – Reuters, December 4, 2021)