Increased Stability of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant over Ancestral Strain

Abstract

As of April 2022, the Omicron BA.1 variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2 was spreading quickly around the world and outcompeting other circulating strains. We examined its stability on various surfaces and found that this Omicron variant is more stable than its ancestral strain on smooth and porous surfaces.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• coronavirus disease
• SARS-CoV-2
• Omicron
• variant of concern
• stability