Few serious cases of the omicron variant have been reported in South Africa

COVID-19 cases increased 93% in Africa in a week, reported the WHO regional, which also reported that few of the cases of the omicron variant detected in South Africa have been severe.

In its weekly briefing, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa highlighted the need to improve vaccination coverage on the continent, which on average it is still very low.

More than 107,000 cases of COVID-19 were registered in Africa during the week ending December 5 (compared to 55,000 the previous week), and the portion of the omicron variant has yet to be determined.

Southern Africa recorded the largest increase, averaging 140%.

The first data from South Africa indicate that the “omicron variant could cause less severe forms of the disease,” says WHO-Africa in a statement released in parallel to the meeting.

Between November 14 and December 4, the occupancy rate for hospital beds in intensive care was only 6.3%. According to the same source, “Africa currently represents 46% of the nearly 1,000 omicron cases reported by 57 countries worldwide.”

To date, ten African countries have reported such cases.

The WHO regional office highlighted that only 7.8% of Africans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Richard Mihigo, coordinator of the WHO vaccination program in Africa, insisted that the situation “is dangerous and cannot continue.”

He also noted that the supply of vaccines in the continent continues to improve and that progress must be made in the “deployment” and administration of doses, particularly to the most vulnerable people. (I)