Delta variant R number was around 1.1: Omicron is estimated to be between 3-5
The latest indication from experts reveals the new strain is up to five times more infectious than Delta
The Omicron R number – the average number of people that one infected person will pass the virus onto – is estimated to be between three and five, officials have revealed.This is in contrast to the current most common strain of coronavirus, the Delta variant, which has an R number of 1.1 to 1.2.
The R number is a way of assessing how contagious viruses are and how quickly they are likely to spread.
This means someone infected with the Omicron variant will go on to infect between three and five other people with it, proving that this new strain is much more contagious than those which have come before.
Countries across Europe have been tightening their travel restrictions in the run up to Christmas to try to stem the tide of infections, with France being the latest country to require a PCR or lateral flow test for visitors from the UK.
There are still only a handful of Omicron cases in Spain so far, but the high level of contagiousness and the increased movement of people over the Christmas holidays is leading officials to be worried that the number of cases could spiral out of control.
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