Omicron morbidity on decline in Russia - epidemiologist

MOSCOW. March 28 (Interfax) - Russia is seeing a decline in the number of infections with the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, Director of the epidemiological scientific research institute of Rospotrebnadzor, the health and consumer rights watchdog, Vasily Akimkin said.

"Speaking of the morbidity dynamics in Russia, [...] we are at the stage of declining morbidity for the Omicron variant," Akimkin said at the 14th Russian Annual Infectious Disease Congress on Monday.

Russia has seen five surges in Covid-19 cases to date, he said.

According to Akimkin, Omicron accounts for 36% of all Covid-19 cases in Russia.

Akimkin's presentation shows that the Delta variant prevails with 47% of all cases recorded in Russia.

"Delta is prevailing here for now, because it was responsible for the largest number of cases in 2021. Still, you can see that Omicron has formally caught up with Delta although it has been here for only three, or 3-and-a-half months," he said.

Omicron sub-lineage BA.2, also known as stealth Omicron, accounts for 17.2% of the cases, while sub-lineage BA.1 prevails and accounts for 60.6% of the cases, he said.