South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron

JOHANNESBURG -- As the world grapples with the emergence of the new highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, worried scientists in South Africa -- where omicron was first identified -- are scrambling to combat its lightning spread across the country.

"Young people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65 per cent are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated," said Mathivha. "I'm worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed."

What looked like a cluster infection among some university students in Pretoria ballooned into hundreds of new cases and then thousands, first in the capital city and then to nearby Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city. The new variant has a high number of mutations that appear to make it more transmissible and help it evade immune responses.

"This variant is mostly in Gauteng province, the Johannesburg area of South Africa. But we've got clues from diagnostic tests ... that suggest that this variant is already all over South Africa," said Hanekom, who is also co-chair of the South African COVID Variant Research Consortium.

LOL!

are there news outlets from South Africa telling the other side (truth) of this fear campaign?

Would you stop the fear mongering! It's old.

With health condition wouldn't have to worry about getting sick and maybe dying please everybody go get your shots so we can make covid-19 and the mutations a thing of the past and everybody can start to go see eachother and travel and go to sports events and stuff.

I feel for all those families that might be to visit other families from other countries for Christmas or the holiday season but we wouldn't have this problem if everybody just got their shots cuz this stuff and be a thing in the past and then people like myself with health.

I see the Branch Covidians are out in full force.

Thanks vaccinated people for creating more variants.

Ctv joining the bs

Where have the real journalists gone?

My god the people in those pics don’t travel light….

How do people travel with that much luggage? I thought you were allowed 1suitcase and a carry on. Anything more than that costs you a small fortune!

The same ones that say the media and WHO are lying about the new variant? 🤔

SHUTTY

And media

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EXPLAINER: What to know about the new Omicron COVID variant in South AfricaSouth African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country's most populous province. It's unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has now been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. I'll wait to read the WHO reports directly. But thank you for offering what you choose to. More powerful viruses attacking on the way to come as CCP lab made designed for attacking vaccinated More going to die since when did Futurama become real life
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »

South African scientists detect new COVID-19 variant amid spikeSouth African detects a new COVID-19 variant that has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong in travellers from South Africa amid a high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Travel bans, border restrictions imposed in several countries after new COVID-19 variant discovered in South AfricaWithin hours of scientists in South Africa identifying a worrisome new COVID-19 variant, Britain announced a ban on flights from South Africa and several other African countries. Many other governments issued similar edicts Guaranteed the Branch Covidian Utrudopian Cult and our Dear Leader Prince Jihadi Trudopia (Skippy DoNothing) will do nothing or as little as possible, so they can keep controlling us under their new communist regime! Shut. The. Door.
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »