Research teams have released early data that shows the Covid variant of the Omicron virus is less likely cause hospitalizations and it appears to be milder than older strains.

Dienstag, a new study from South AfricaIt was found that people with the omicron infection are less likely than those who have contracted other strains to receive admission to hospital.

On Tuesday, the National Institute for Communicable Disorders published research that suggests an omicron-suffering population has a decreased risk of serious illness or hospitalizations than people who had the delta version.

Data from Oct. 1-Dec. 6 showed that individuals suffering from omicron were 70% less likely than people who had previously contracted delta infection. The risk of serious disease was not different among hospitalized patients.

South Africa’s authors warned that the low number of hospitalizations was probably due to the high level of population immunity.

Study from England, Scotland and England support South Africa’s findings.

The early Scottish data published Wednesday suggests that hospitalizations for young adults who have been double-vaccinated are two-thirds less likely with omicron than they were with delta.

Different figures, both from England and published separately on Wednesday,Patients with the new variant are 40%-45% less likely to need hospitalization than patients who had delta.

Scientists say that it’s too soon to say whether the variant is milder or more severe. However, this data gives government officials hope.

Since its discovery in South Africa, Omicron quickly spread throughout the world. On Nov. 24, it was first reported to the World Health Organization. labelled it a “variant of concern” two days laterIt was noted that the mutations it carried were associated with an increased transmission.

It U.S. is now reporting nearly 150,000 daily Covid casesThe U.K. had reported more than 100,000 cases per day on Wednesday, the first report since the outbreak of the pandemic.

In an effort slow down the spread, certain governments have implemented new restrictions. These are the Netherlands entered a full lockdown this weekendThis will leave only essential and supermarkets closed.

There are fears about the new version. put a dampener on the winter holidaysFor many people, this means that they have to alter their plans or isolate themselves if they catch Covid.

The U.K. government is shortening the mandatory self-isolation periodFor those with negative results for lateral flow tests on more than two days consecutively, the wait time in England is from 10 to 7 days.

Initial studies show that the most affected by the omicron variant are those without vaccinations. Even those who have had two doses of vaccines are suffering from breakthrough infections. Three doses of booster shots have been proven to be effective against the omicron variant. This has led authorities to increase their booster shot program in the U.K., U.S., and other countries.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced earlier this month that while two doses of their vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease, protection is improved with a third dose, according to an early laboratory study.

The World Health Organization warned however, Wednesday such booster drives threatened to prolong the pandemicUngleiche access to vaccines may lead to more virus mutations.

— CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt and Nate Rattner contributed to this report