“The data obtained since December 15th consolidate the perspective that the Omicron variant will be dominant (greater than 50%) in Portugal this week (20th to 26th December), in parallel with the scenario observed in other countries such as, for example, Denmark and the United Kingdom”, states the weekly report of the INSA on the genetic diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the country.

The most recent INSA report on the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 states that, based on nationwide weekly random sampling subjected to viral genome sequencing, this variant registered in week 48 (November 29 to December 5; analysis completed) and in week 49 (December 6-12; data in progress) relative frequencies of 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively.

“This result suggests a low circulation of the Omicron variant in late November/early December, in sharp contrast to the abrupt increase in circulation of this variant estimated for the following days”.

According to the INSA, "the use of this criterion has allowed to identify, since the 6th of December, an exponential growth in the proportion of probable cases, having reached an estimated proportion of 46.9% on the 20th of December".