The Higher Health Institute (ISS) said Thursday that the Omicron variant accounts for around 28% of new COVID-19 cases in Italy, according to the preliminary results of a flash survey of around 2,000 tests conducted on December 20.
It said that there were major regional variations and it estimated that Omicron cases were doubling every two days, a figure that is in line with the experience of other European countries.
"Although the results are preliminary, the estimate confirms the great speed at which the variant spreads," said ISS President Silvio Brusaferro.
"It seems to cause large outbreaks in a very short time and it is soon set to become the predominant variant, as is happening in other European countries.
"On the basis of the data that is available to us, the weapons we have are vaccinations, with a speedy third dose, and individual and collective measures to limit the spread of the virus - facemasks and limits on contact and gatherings".
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