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Early assessment of the clinical severity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in South Africa

association between S gene target failure (SGTF) infection, compared to non-SGTF infection, and severe disease among hospitalised individuals with known outcome, South Africa, 1 October – 30 November 2021

N=317 Severe disease* n/N (%)

SGTF (Omicron) 42/204 (21%)
Non-SGTF (non-Omicron) 45/113 (40%)

* Severe disease defined as a hospitalized patient meeting at least one of the following criteria: admitted to ICU, received oxygen treatment, ventilated, received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and/or died

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