Medical Officer MOSCOW, Jan 10 By the end of the New Year weekend in Russia, an increase in the number of coronavirus infections is possible due to the spread of the omicron strain, the head of the scientific group at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Kamil Khafizov expressed this opinion on the air of the Russia 1 TV channel. they may experience an increase in the incidence due to the spread of the new omicron strain, «the specialist noted. 
Scientists Predict the End of an Omicron Pandemic A strain of B.1.1.529, called an omicron, was discovered in South Africa in November. It contains dozens of mutations in the S-protein, which the pathogen needs to infect cells. According to the researchers, many of the new changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome indicate a high transmissibility of this variant and resistance to the protective antibodies of those who have been ill and vaccinated, so that it can be picked up by those who have already been ill and vaccinated, confirmed the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Gebreyesus. As the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko said earlier, in Russia there are not only «imported» cases of infection with a new strain, in the regions it is already being detected in people who have not left the country. The scientific community is optimistic about the arrival of the omicron coronavirus strain, since so far there is no evidence that this variant of the virus causes severe forms of the disease in a large number of people, Sergei Voznesensky, associate professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), told RIA Novosti earlier. He noted that the prevalence of this variant is growing due to the fact that it is better transmitted than delta, but there is moderate optimism about severe and fatal cases. 
