In South Africa, where it was first identified, the Omicron variant is displacing the Delta variant and causing a sharp rise in cases. It has also been found that the Omicron variant can cause reinfection. A study by Juliet Pulliam of Stellenbosch University showed that a considerable number of South Africans who had tested positive for Covid-19 during previous waves as a result of Beta and Delta variants are getting infected a second time with Omicron.The previous study underscored that questions remain regarding whether Omicron is also able to evade vaccine-induced immunity and the potential implications of reduced immunity to infection on protection against severe disease and death.Data on the virulence of the variant shows that in hospitals those affected with Omicron have not shown a pattern of higher disease severity amongst older people. This could change as more people get affected, but the data, as of now, shows otherwise.In South Africa’s Tshwane, amongst those admitted in the hospital after testing positive for Omicron, only 30% had severe cases. Earlier during the Delta wave, 70% of those between 50-69 and 90% of above-80s had severe cases.In South Africa’s Gauteng province, where Tshwane is located, in-hospital mortality rates were also lower in the past four weeks compared to cumulatively (2.6% compared to 22%) and younger patients (0-9, 10-19, and 30-39) accounted for higher hospital admissions during the past month than previously. The average length of stay in the hospital, for all age categories of patients, was lower in the past month.
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