SUPER-transmissible Omicron may only cause minor cold-like symptoms even in the elderly — as long as they have been jabbed, a top scientist says.
Despite being highly contagious, initial studies indicate the new strain does not often lead to serious disease like the Delta variant.
Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College London, examined UK Omicron super-spreader events involving older people — and found the patients mainly suffered “sniffles”.
He said: “What we’re seeing so far is that symptoms are very, very mild.
“Most of my information comes from one big event, a 60th birthday party where 18 people aged 60 to 75 spent the night together in a hotel.
“Most of them had symptoms of a cold — sniffles, sore throat and fatigue were common.
“Only two had classic symptoms of Covid, fever and loss of smell or taste.
“Nobody had to see their doctor or go to hospital.”
He added all those at the party had been double-jabbed and some had had a booster.
Professor Sian Griffiths, of Imperial College London, added:
“It is up to us to think about how we adapt our lives.”
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