Category: Africa
African Coronavirus News
South Africa: Tshwane District Omicron Patient Profile
There has been a significant rise in new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Gauteng Province in the last four weeks which has been attributed to the new Omicron variant announced on 24 November 2021. More...
Omicron: The world is “closer to the start of the pandemic than the end”
The emergence of the Omicron variant shows that the world is “closer to the start of the pandemic than the end”, one of Britain’s most senior scientific figures has warned, as he lamented a lack of political leadership over Covid. More...
South Africa: Growing number of children admitted to hospitals with Omicron
South African health care workers are raising concern about the growing number of children being hospitalised with moderate to severe symptoms of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. More...
UKHSA risk assessment for Omicron variant
UK risk assessment for Omicron variant B.1.1.529, dated 3rd December 2021
Transmissibility between humans: Amber – At least as transmissible as currently circulating variants
Omicron is transmitting rapidly and successfully. More...
Preprint: Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa
332 individuals were identified who had three suspected infections. More...
Omicron at 74% of South African genome sequences in November
Stunning figures showing the explosive growth of the new Omicron variant in South Africa. More...
WHO: Global risk related to Omicron assessed as very high
WHO: “The overall global risk related to the new VOC Omicron is assessed as very high.” More...
Switzerland adds UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Egypt and Malawi to travel alert list for Omicron
The Swiss Ministry of Health has put more countries on a quarantine list because of the Omikron variant. More...
Omicron “incubated in an immunocompromized person for months or serially passaged in a lab”
Some interesting developments on the possible origins of the new Omicron variant, B.1.1.529…
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Netherlands: “Dozens” infected with Covid on flights from South Africa
Dutch health authorities said that dozens of people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday are likely infected with COVID-19, and they are conducting further testing to see if people are infected with the recently discovered Omicron coronavirus variant. More...