The Homicron mutation is predominant in Italy

The highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus is now predominant in Italy, the National Institutes of Health (ISS) said on Friday, accounting for 81% of cases in an emergency study on January 3rd. according to what was published by Reuters.

A previous investigation showed that the Omicron strain accounted for only 28% of cases on December 20.

“In Italy on January 3, the Omicron variant was predominant, with an estimated prevalence of 81%, while Delta was at 19% of the sample tested,” the ISS said in a statement.

The analysis is based on 2,632 samples tested in 120 laboratories and collected in all 21 Italian regions and autonomous provinces, the institute said.

Italy reported 184,615 COVID-19-related cases on Thursday, up from 196,224 the previous day, the health ministry said, adding that the death toll rose to 316 from 313.

The country has recorded 140,188 COVID-19-related deaths since its outbreak in February 2020, the second-highest death toll in Europe after Britain and the ninth-highest in the world. The country has reported 8.15 million cases to date.