"No Transmission Risk 10 Days After Onset of Omicron Symptoms"

A microscopic image of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Omicron variant virus taken by the Russian State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, "Vector." This Omicron variant virus is shown inside a cell on the sixth day after infection, magnified 150,000 times. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] A study has found that the transmission period of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is not different from that of the non-variant or Delta variant.

The quarantine authorities suggested that this result implies that the isolation period for Omicron variant infected individuals can be shortened to the level of the Delta variant, and announced that they will adjust the isolation guidelines for Omicron infected individuals next month.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at an online regular briefing on the 27th, "The period during which the virus can be transmitted to others does not differ significantly between the Delta variant and the Omicron variant," adding, "(This provides) grounds to shorten the isolation period for Omicron infected individuals. After scientific review, we plan to revise the guidelines so that they can be applied as early as the beginning of January."

The Central Disease Control Headquarters investigated 171 samples obtained from 72 recent Omicron infected individuals and confirmed that the period during which the Omicron variant can be cultured is within 10 days after symptom onset, showing no difference from the non-variant virus or the existing Alpha and Delta variants.

This means that even if infected with the Omicron variant, there is no transmissibility after 10 days from symptom onset. Accordingly, the authorities decided to consider shortening the isolation period for Omicron variant infected individuals to the level of non-variant and Delta variant infected individuals.

Currently, Omicron variant infected individuals are isolated for 14 days after symptom onset, but this could be reduced to about 11 days after symptom onset, similar to Delta variant infected individuals.

Meanwhile, in this study, the culture positivity rate (the probability of successful culturing) for the Omicron variant was 56%, higher than that of the Delta variant (36%).

Lee explained, "The Omicron variant binds well to cells and proliferates effectively compared to the Delta variant, which can be said to show high infectivity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.