Scientists conducted experiments on mice and hamsters and found that omicron affects mainly the upper respiratory tract - the nose and nasopharynx, and spreads to the lungs much less frequently than other strains of coronavirus.
Studies have shown that omicron propagated slower than delta in 12 samples taken in the airways.
Thus, according to experts, omicron can cause a less severe course of the disease.
Earlier, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Alexei Agranovsky, in an interview with the NSN, noted that the rapid spread of omicron does not mean that the number of deaths from COVID-19 will increase.