The panicked reaction across much of the world to the Omicron variant comes with a scramble for information. In SA, the country where Omicron was first identified and where cases are jumping, scientists and doctors describe what they are seeing.
Dr Marc Mendelson, the head of infectious diseases at the University of Cape Town, who also works at Groote Schuur Hospital:
“It’s always nice to hope, but don’t set everything on this because I think your hopes could be dashed.”“If in the second and third wave we’d seen these levels of positivity to tests conducted, we would have seen very significant increases in hospital admissions and we’re not seeing that. In our primary care clinics it is mainly people under 30-years-old.”
“Omicron seems to be moving at a faster speed than Delta, but at the same time what seems to be happening is that our hospitalisation rate is somewhat more muted.” “We monitored reinfections for the Beta and the Delta waves and we didn’t see an increase in reinfections over and above what we expect when the force of infection changes, when a wave starts. With Omicron, we are seeing an increase in reinfections.”
“If it does displace the Delta variant, we’d need to see if this is the result of immune evasion or because of increased transmissibility.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Surge in SA households dependent on grants – Stats SAMore than a quarter of all households received grants as their main source of income last year as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc.
Read more »
Reinfections three times more likely with Omicron: SA researchA preliminary study by South African scientists published suggests the Omicron variant is three times more likely to cause reinfections compared to the Delta or Beta strains.
Read more »
Despite Omicron surge, SA so far sees mild symptomsWhile only about one in four South Africans are fully vaccinated, the rates are higher among older people who are mostly prone to suffer serious illness if they become infected.
Read more »
India seek clarity on SA tour as Omicron spreadsIndia are expected to fly to South Africa for a full series, but the new Covid variant might put plans on hold.
Read more »
Omicron in 23 countries: WHO slams those who penalised SATravel ban also hampered research and lacked any logic, say experts
Read more »
Stop penalising SA and Botswana for detecting the Omicron variant, says WHOThe variant has been found in 23 countries, the WHO says, but several more could come to light as data is analysed
Read more »