The Omicron wave passed without a peak in deaths

South Africa, where it was revealed last month The new alternative to Covid-19It was announced Thursday, December 30, that the Omicron wave had passed its peak without a noticeable increase in the number of deaths. “All indications are that the country has passed the peak of the fourth waveAnd from the pandemic, the presidency said in a statement, announcing the lifting of some health restrictions, especially the night curfew. “A slight increase in the number of deaths was observed in all governorates‘, she continued.

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New infections fell about 30% last week (89,781), compared to the previous week (127,753). Hospital admissions fell in eight of the nine provinces:Although the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, hospitalization rates were lower than in previous waves.”, stressed the Presidency of the Republic.

Omicron, which contains a large number of mutations that raise concerns about vaccine resistance, was first identified in Botswana and South Africa in late November. It quickly became dominant in South Africa, causing the number of infections to skyrocket to more than 26,000 daily cases in mid-December, according to official statistics.

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Omicron is present in a hundred countries

The alternative is currently present in about 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization. It is highly contagious, affecting people who have been vaccinated as well as those who have already contracted the virus.

Officially the worst affected African country, South Africa has more than 3.4 million cases and 91,000 deaths. Less than 13,000 cases were detected in the last 24 hours. “The rate at which the fourth wave rose due to Omicron, peaked and then regressed, was astounding. Peak in four weeks and sharp drop in two weeksFarid Abdullah of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) posted on Twitter.

As many Omicron affected countries have announced tightening of health restrictions, the South African government has decided to lift the night curfew in force so far from midnight to 4 am. Establishments that have a license to sell alcohol after 11:00 PM can resume their normal operation.

Wearing a mask remains mandatory in public and gatherings are still limited: a maximum of 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 outdoors. Demands to lift the curfew have multiplied in recent days, in anticipation of the New Year, with a petition from restaurant and bar owners. “The risk of increased infection remains high due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron . variantHowever, the Presidency of the Republic warned an advocate for immunization.

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