Omicron spreading in Italy, set to be dominant, health body says

FILE PHOTO: Guardia di Finanza officers check the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health pass, known as a Green Pass, of a person at a train station the day the government restricts access of unvaccinated, in Naples, Italy December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Ciro de Luca

MILAN (Reuters) - The highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly in Italy, the National Health Institute (ISS) said on Thursday, releasing preliminary data of a flash-survey showing it accounted for 28% of cases on Dec. 20.

The previous survey showed Omicron at just 0.19% of cases on Dec. 6.