The World Health Organization (WHO) said on December 9 that the number of new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) cases in Africa nearly doubled within a week, but fortunately, the hospitalization rate in South Africa is still low.
South Africa, which was the first to discover the new variant virus strain Omicron, said on the 10th that it is not clear whether Omicron is more likely to cause severe illness or death, but preliminary evidence shows that it may cause a higher risk of secondary infection.
British Sky News reported on the 10th that Omicron cases in some parts of South Africa have surged by 400%.
On the 9th, the number of newly diagnosed cases in a single day in South Africa hit a new high since the fourth wave of the epidemic, with more than 22,000 cases recorded, but still less than the more than 2.6 cases diagnosed at the peak of the Delta epidemic.
South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla said that compared with the previous week, the number of cases in Houten Province climbed very significantly during the week of December 4, with a more than 400% increase in confirmed diagnoses and a 200% increase in hospitalizations.
Fahra also pointed out that 70% of the hospitalized patients were not vaccinated.
New crown pneumonia outbreak in South Africa: The picture shows researchers processing Omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center on December 8.
(AP)
Xinhua News Agency quoted Fahra on the 10th when meeting with the media on the 10th that Omicron was the cause of the resurgence of the epidemic. Compared with other variant virus strains including Delta, it is still unknown whether Omicron infection is more likely to cause severe illness or death, but preliminary evidence Shows that Omicron increases the risk of secondary infection.
He added that researchers still need to collect more information, and the details will be announced in the next few days and weeks.
Africa Outbreak
Agence France-Presse said on the 9th that the WHO Regional Office for Africa stated in a weekly online press conference that 107,000 cases were recorded in the African continent in the week as of the 5th, compared with 55,000 in the previous week. The difference between the two is almost the same. 1 times.
The region with the largest increase in confirmed diagnoses is southern Africa, but the number of severe cases in South Africa that was found in Omicron in November is still low.
The statement mentioned: "Preliminary data from South Africa shows that Omicron may cause fewer severe illnesses." "Inpatient data from November 14 to December 4 across South Africa found that the intensive care unit (ICU) ward occupancy rate was only 6.3 %." "Compared with the peak of the outbreak related to (variant strain) Delta in South Africa in July, this number is very low."
Will become the British mainstream variant virus
The UK added 58,194 confirmed cases on the 10th, which is the largest number of infections since January 9. Among them, 448 are Omicron cases, and the total number of Omicron confirmed cases is 1,265.
The Associated Press said on the 10th that it quoted experts as warning that Omicron may replace Delta in mid-December to become the mainstream variant virus strain in China.
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The report quoted preliminary data indicating that the effectiveness of the vaccine was significantly improved in the early stage after the booster dose, and it could provide about 70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infections.
