Dödligt virus från Kina orsakar panik (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19)

/.../. In this study, we found that the Omicron variant has switched entry pathway to preferentially use
endosomal fusion that is independent of TMPRSS2; a major change in the biological behaviour of the
virus. This switching in the mechanism of fusion activation also manifests in reduced syncytia
formation in infected cells, likely to reduce the cell-to-cell transmission characteristic of other variants.
These properties have the potential to substantially change cellular tropism and pathogenesis of
disease. Nonetheless, even a variant that is less virulent with a very high transmission rate may still present a substantial risk to older people and those with co-morbidities, especially those with
immunosuppression. Moreover, our work demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 exhibits high antigenic and functional plasticity; further fundamental shifts in transmission and disease should be anticipated.

An amazing study led by @emcat1 carefully dissecting the properties of omicron relative to other variants. TL;DR:
omicron shows:
-high levels of escape from vaccines with immunity partly restored post-3rd dose
-lower syncytia formation
-different preferred mechanism of cell entry

Also, as the authors note:
" Even a variant that is less virulent with a very high transmission rate may still present a substantial risk to older people and those with co-morbidities, especially those with immunosuppression."

Given rapid spread of this variant, including in vaccinated people, and in those with prior immunity, public health measures are essential to prevent health services being overwhelmed, and limit spread to reduce the risk from long COVID, which is currently unknown with omicron.