Insights into Omicron : Genomic Characterization and Inpatient Risk As

Introduction

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is being rapidly spread globally since the emergence in China.¹ In Indonesia, the first cases were reported in early March 2020.² The causative virus continues to mutate to adapt to the environment, leading to the origination of new variants. Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, also known as B.1.1.529, was first identified in South Africa in November 2021 and officially declared a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 26, 2021.³ This variant has become the dominant strain globally, representing over 98% of viral sequencing data shared in Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).^4,5

Compared to…