According to a study published this week by experts at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, the omicron form of Covid-19 replicates 70 times faster in human airways than delta, yet infection in the lungs appears to be less severe than the original viral strain.

Dr. Michael Chan Chi-wai and his colleagues discovered that 24 hours after infection, the variant replicates more quicker in the bronchus, which connects the windpipe to the lungs. However, it reproduces more than ten times slower in human lung tissue, according to the researchers.

The study is currently undergoing peer assessment. Because of the pandemic's urgency, researchers have been publicising their findings before peer review is done.

According to the findings of the study, Omicron's rapid replication in the airway may explain why it spreads quicker than prior forms of the virus, but lesser infection in the lungs may indicate that it produces less severe disease.

"It's crucial to remember that the severity of sickness in people is dictated not just by virus replication but also by the immunological response of the host to the infection," Chan said in a statement.  Even though the lung infection appeared to be mild, Chan cautioned that a highly contagious virus like omicron may cause more serious sickness and mortality merely by spreading much faster.

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