South Africa Hit By Fourth Wave Of COVID Due To Omicron

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - South Africa is experiencing the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the Omicron variant, which has been found in seven of nine provinces, said Health Minister Joe Phaala.

Omicron has raised concerns around the world about a spike in coronavirus infections, first detected in southern Africa.

This development has led countries across the region to impose travel bans and implement various other measures to prevent the spread of the variant.

Phaala told a news conference that he hoped Omicron could be handled without causing too many deaths.

The Minister of Health urged all South Africans to be fully vaccinated. Phaala was quoted as saying by Reuters from Reuters on Friday, December 3, adding that South Africa may be able to deal with the fourth wave of COVID without having to impose stricter restrictions over Christmas.

Leading scientist of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases of South Africa, Michelle Grorome, told a press conference that South Africa is facing an unprecedented increase in infections in a short period of time because of Omicron.

The group infected with the variant also moves from the younger to the older age groups, he said.

He warned that preparedness should be increased by also increasing the supply of beds and staff in the pediatric ward at the hospital as there is an increasing number of children under the age of four needing to be treated.

Omicron has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant to watch out for.

Scientists are gathering data to find out how easily Omicron can transmit and how severe the disease the variant can cause.