Health data from South Africa has revealed a 300% increase in hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in the province where the Omicron variant emerged, sparking global fears that it may spread more rapidly and be more lethal. The British newspaper “Daily Mail” reported that the Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg, recorded 580 hospital admissions due to COVID-19 this week. In contrast, only 135 people were hospitalized with the virus two weeks ago, indicating a significant rise in those experiencing symptoms upon infection.
The epidemiological situation in this African country is worsening, with statistics showing that less than 40% of Gauteng's population has received the first dose of the vaccine. Experts warn that the vaccination rate in this province, which has a population of 12 million, is the third lowest in the country.
Last week, the Omicron variant was detected in 77 cases in the province, amid fears that it may be the fastest-spreading variant to date and could affect the immunity provided by vaccination due to its large number of mutations. However, health officials in South Africa have conveyed reassuring news, stating that the symptoms exhibited by those infected with the new variant appear to be moderate.
Angelique Coetzee, a member of the South African Medical Association, noted that the symptoms associated with the new variant seem mild "compared to those treated previously." She added that these symptoms range from fatigue to muscle pain, further explaining, “What we have observed so far is that those infected do not experience loss of taste or smell, and they have a mild cough.”
She indicated that some individuals infected with the new variant of the coronavirus are being treated at home, suggesting that their condition is not severe. Scientists are still awaiting sufficient data regarding those infected to determine the severity of the new variant and whether it can indeed undermine the effectiveness of the existing vaccines against the infection.
