Covid-19: Peak of viral shedding is later with omicron variant, Japanese data suggest (13 January 2022)

Summary

In this article for The BMJ, Ingrid Torjesen looks at new data from Japan that suggest patients with the omicron variant of Covid-19 shed virus for longer after symptoms emerge, than with other Covid-19 variants. This has a potentially significant impact on hopes of shortening the period of isolation for people testing positive.

The article examines new evidence from Japan that suggests that with omicron, the peak of virus shedding may be two or three days later than with other variants. It also looks at the relative value of self-isolation in the UK while omicron is circulating so widely in the community, with up to two-thirds of cases now undetected by testing.