Researchers found Omicron had 10 times the proportion of reinfection cases compared to Delta. Here’s what else two early studies say.

Two new preprint papers add to growing evidence that the Omicron coronavirus variant may be less likely to cause severe disease and hospitalization compared to the Delta variant.

Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization compared with Delta, suggests one study, released online Wednesday as a working paper by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. That research was based out of Scotland.

The other paper, posted Tuesday to the online server medrxiv.org, suggests that people with Omicron infections have had 80% lower odds of being admitted to the hospital compared with Delta infections. But once a patient was hospitalized, there was no difference in the risk of severe disease, according to that research, based out of South Africa.

Both studies include preliminary data and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The study out of Scotland included data on 23,840 Omicron cases and 126,511 Delta cases, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 19. The researchers – from the University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland – took a close look at the health outcomes among those Omicron infections compared with Delta infections. There were 15 hospital admissions among those with Omicron infections and 856 hospital admissions among Delta.

The researchers found that the proportion of Omicron cases that were likely reinfections in people who have had Covid-19 before was more than 10 times that of Delta. The data also showed that having received a third dose of vaccine, or booster shot, was associated with a 57% reduction in the risk of symptomatic Omicron infection when compared with being at least 25 weeks out from completing a second dose.

“These early national data suggest that Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation when compared to Delta. Whilst offering the greatest protection against Delta, the third/booster dose of vaccination offers substantial additional protection against the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 for Omicron,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

Read the full story on the studies here.

The English Premier League has postponed two matches scheduled for December 26 due to Covid-19 issues within Leeds United and Watford FC, it announced on Thursday.

In a news release, the EPL cited Leeds United and Watford FC not having enough available players to field a team as the reason for the postponements.

Watford FC were scheduled to play on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Leeds United were scheduled to face off against hosts Liverpool FC on Sunday, December 26.

“While recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, it is the clubs’ and the League’s collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority and the League will continue to monitor and reflect public health guidance, always proceeding with caution,” the statement concluded.

Closures and postponements: Leeds United announced that the training ground at Thorp Arch will be closed for the next two days following five new positive Covid-19 cases within the first-team squad and staff, on the advice of Public Health England.

Last weekend the Premier League postponed 10 matches as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country. In total, 12 matches have now been postponed due to Covid-19.

The Scottish Government has recommended nightclubs to close for three weeks from December 27, instead of operating under recently announced restrictions.

“While it would be open to them to operate with distancing and table service, and that option will remain, we consider that closure and regulations, combined with financial support, may reduce losses and help these businesses weather what we hope will be a short period until they are able to operate normally again,” Deputy First Minister John Swinney told lawmakers at a Covid-19 Recovery Committee on Thursday.

For three weeks from December 26, sporting events in Scotland will be “effectively spectator-free” and indoor events limited to 200 people with one-meter distancing to curb the spread of Covid-19, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Tuesday.

Swinney added Thursday that although early data from more than one study suggest hospitalization is less likely with the Omicron variant compared to Delta, “we do not yet know conclusively if the proportion of Omicron cases needing hospital care is lower, higher or the same as Delta.”

Amid the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, a dozen Broadway shows have shuttered their doors this week as cast or crew members test positive for Covid-19 — during what is usually a busy holiday season for the industry

Since Broadway returned following an 18-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, vaccination against Covid-19 has been required for eligible audiences, crews, performers and other staff.

The safety measure, among others such as mask-wearing, is aimed at keeping the curtains raised as the US enters yet another Christmas marred by a rise in Covid-19 and shutdowns.

Broadway provides about 97,000 jobs in New York City, adding about $14.7 billion to the city’s economy in the 2018-2019 season, according to the Broadway League.

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While some US teens have been vaccinated for so long that they’re now eligible for Covid-19 boosters, those under the age of 5 still haven’t gotten their first shots.

The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for children 5 and older since late October, and teens 16 and up have been eligible for boosters since December 9.

As coronavirus cases in children surge again, vaccine approval for kids under 5 can’t come soon enough for many parents. But it looks likely that the youngest children won’t get protection from Covid-19 until well into 2022.

In another setback, Pfizer announced last week that it was amending the clinical trial of its vaccine in children 6 months to 5 years old.

The company said two doses didn’t elicit the same kind of robust immune response in 2- to 5-year-olds as with adults. A third dose will be added to the trials for children under 6.

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House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn tweeted on his official Congressional account that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

He wrote: “This is a breakthrough case,” and urges anyone who has not been vaccinated to protect themselves and get vaccinated.

Jan Schakowsky has tested positive for Covid, the Illinois Democrat Rep. confirmed in a series of posts on Twitter.

Schakowsky said: “We got tested when we felt something was off, and now we can prevent exposure to our family and loved ones. I implore you to do the same before holiday gatherings this week and next. Get tested if you feel sick or have been around someone who tests positive.”

She added that she and her husband are quarantining with their dogs.

Queen Elizabeth II will be joined by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall on Christmas at Windsor Castle, changing her Christmas plans due to the surge of coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom.

“The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be with Her Majesty The Queen on Christmas Day,” a spokesperson for Clarence House told CNN.

On Monday, a Buckingham Palace source confirmed that the Queen would not travel to Sandringham for Christmas and would instead celebrate at Windsor Castle, due to the surge in Omicron.

In a typical year, the Queen travels to her country estate of Sandringham for the family’s annual Christmas retreat.

But in recent weeks, the palace has been taking added precautions due to coronavirus, including canceling a pre-Christmas lunch that the monarch typically hosts for extended family.

Russia needs Covid-19 herd-immunity of up to 80% and hopes to reach this figure in 2022, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday, speaking at his annual press conference in Moscow.

Putin stressed that the current level of 59.4% collective immunity in Russia is insufficient.

While highlighting the global threat posed by the new Omicron coronavirus variant, Putin reiterated that the pandemic cannot be solved without global vaccine distribution.

“I am talking about the need for mutual recognition of vaccines and the distribution of these vaccines around the world as quickly as possible and in as large quantities as possible, otherwise we will not cope with this problem globally, humanity will live with it all the time and suffer huge losses,” he said.