South Africa hit by fourth COVID wave pushed by Omicron

South Africa is being hit by a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections pushed by the Omicron variant which has been detected in seven of the nation’s 9 provinces, Health Minister Joe Phaahla mentioned on Friday.
Omicron, which has raised international fears of a surge in infections, was first detected in southern Africa final month and has prompted governments throughout continents to impose journey curbs and take different measures to include it.
Phaahla instructed a media briefing that he hoped that the variant may very well be managed with out inflicting too many deaths.
He urged South Africans to get totally vaccinated, including that the nation may handle the fourth wave with out stricter lockdown restrictions over Christmas.

“We can still manage this in a manner where government doesn’t have to invoke serious restrictions over the next few days if we all just do our basic duties of the safety measures, but also if more and more of us who are eligible … approach their nearest vaccination sites,” Phaahla mentioned.
Top scientist Michelle Groome of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases mentioned on the briefing the nation was dealing with an “unprecedented rise” in infections over a short while as a result of Omicron.
The infections have been additionally shifting from the youthful age cohort into older folks, she mentioned.

It was vital for surge preparedness to incorporate paediatric beds and employees as there was elevated admissions amongst kids underneath 4, she mentioned.
Omicron has been listed as a “variant of concern” by the WHO and scientists are nonetheless gathering information to ascertain how contagious Omicron is, and the severity of the sickness it causes.