Chronological changes of viral shedding in adult inpatients with Omicron infection in Shanghai, China

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Omicron variant occurred in Shanghai, China, but its clinical characteristics and virology have not been comprehensively described.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included adult inpatients (≥18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 at Changhai Hospital. Laboratory and clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records to investigate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 and the variations in the patients’ laboratory indexes were examined.ResultsThe symptoms of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant were relatively mild. Upper respiratory tract specimens yielded higher positive detection rates than lower respiratory tract and intestinal specimens. Peak COVID-19 viral load was reached at the time of admission; quantification cycle (Cq) values increased to approximately 35 after 8.54 days. In vivo viral shedding duration correlated with age and disease severity (p