• Preliminary data from a small sample size shows there is not much cause for alarm
• Experts say travel bans targeted at Africa are unjustified as it's spread to 60 nations
Image: REUTERS
The World Health Organization has released preliminary data on the Omicron variant, giving a reason to be hopeful but also for worry.
The data shows Omicron is causing less severe illness.
WHO on Thursday said hospitalisations across South Africa remain low.
However, there is a surge of infections across Africa, and weekly Covid-19 cases in the continent have surged by 93 per cent.
Five countries accounted for 86 per cent of the new cases reported over the past week.
Southern Africa recorded the highest increase with a 140 per cent hike mainly driven by an uptick in South Africa, where Omicron was first reported on November 24. “Research is being intensified to determine whether Omicron is fuelling the surge in cases seen in Africa,” WHO said in a statement.
It said data that looked at hospitalisations across South Africa between November 14 and December 4 found that ICU occupancy was only 6.3 per cent, which is “very low” compared with the same period when the country was facing the peak linked to the Delta variant in July.
Data from the same two-week period from one of the health districts most impacted by Omicron found that out of more than 1,200 admissions, 98 were receiving supplemental oxygen and only four were on ventilation.
“This is very preliminary data with a small sample size, and most of the people admitted to the health facilities were under the age of 40. As the clinical profile of patients changes, the impact of Omicron may change,” WHO said.
WHO said the preliminary evidence shows travel bans against Africa were discriminatory. “With Omicron now present in nearly 60 countries globally, travel bans that mainly target African countries are hard to justify,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa.
On Tuesday, Kenyan microbiologist Prof Walter Jaoko said Omicron variant could turn out to be a good thing if it actually causes milder disease than other forms of the virus.
“Delta has been the most dangerous variant so far. But there’s no evidence Omicron is more lethal and it could be even less lethal and this could be a good thing,” he told journalists on Tuesday at a webinar.
However, Prof Jaoko cautioned against placing too much stock in the potential good news of less severity, saying scientists around the world are still carrying out studies.
Last week, the World Health Organization said scientists need at least two weeks to properly understand this variant, which was officially reported by South Africa on November 24.
However, there is growing evidence it could soon lead to a new wave of infections around the world and displace the Delta variant to become the dominant variant.