Nation Omicron variant may multiply 70 times faster than delta, study finds: Latest COVID-19 updates December 16, 2021 John Bacon and Celina Tebor, USA TODAY Comments Off on Omicron variant may multiply 70 times faster than delta, study finds: Latest COVID-19 updates The omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster in the human bronchial tubes than the initial COVID-19 or the delta variant, according to a new study.