Omicron variant dominates in FBiH, 719 patients in hospitals

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - According to data submitted to the Institute for Public Health of FBiH in the Federation of BiH, as of 24.01.2022 at 12:00, 217,923 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease and 7,865 COVID-19-related deaths have been registered. Currently, 24,447 active cases of COVID-19 are recorded.

At the level of the Federation of BiH, the 7-day incidence is 500.1 cases/100,000 inhabitants. In the last seven days, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, West Herzegovina Canton, Sarajevo Canton, and Tuzla Canton have a higher incidence than the average recorded in the Federation of BiH. The 7-day test positivity varies among cantons. High positivity indicates an inadequate number of PCR tests. Results of antigen testing are not included in the report.

In the Federation of BiH, 719 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 disease, of whom 43 (5.9%) are on invasive mechanical ventilation. According to submitted data, out of 671 hospitalized individuals with data on vaccination status, 503 (74.9%) are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, and 168 (25.1%) are fully vaccinated.

In the previous week, 135 deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded.

In the 3rd week, an increase in all indicators is recorded, most notably in the number of COVID-19 deaths and the total number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the end of the week.

The highest values of the 7-day incidence were recorded in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, West Herzegovina Canton, and Sarajevo Canton.

According to sequencing data submitted by the Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics and Forensic Testing of the Veterinary Institute, the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus predominantly circulates in the Federation of BiH, and in the 51st week, the Omicron variant was detected by sequencing for the first time. While in the 52nd week of 2021, the share of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was 22.44%, in the 1st week of 2022 it amounts to almost 57%.

According to data obtained by genotyping samples positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, submitted by the healthcare institution „Alea dr. Kandić“, the Delta variant predominantly circulated at the end of 2021. Results from January 2022 indicate that the Omicron variant is detected in the majority of samples, and that this variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is taking over dominance in the Federation of BiH.