Uninvited Guest: Arrival and Dissemination of Omicron Lineage SARS-CoV-2 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

ABSTRACT: Following its emergence at the end of 2021, the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant rapidly spread around the world and became a dominant variant of concern (VOC). The appearance of the new strain provoked a new pandemic wave with record incidence rates. Here, we analyze the dissemination dynamics of Omicron strains in Saint Petersburg, Russia's second largest city. The first case of Omicron lineage BA.1 was registered in St. Petersburg on 10 December 2021. Rapid expansion of the variant and increased incidence followed. The peak incidence was reached in February 2022, followed by an observed decline coinciding with the beginning of spread of the BA.2 variant. SARS-CoV-2 lineage change dynamics were shown in three categories: airport arrivals; clinical outpatients; and clinical inpatients. It is sh

SUBMITTER: Gladkikh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9414241 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature