Episode Details

Omicron variant Dr Angelique Coetzee, South African Medical Association First to raise alarm about the new omicron https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-v-bT8X38 a storm in a teacup Why everyone up in arms So far, what we have seen is very mild cases 17 to 18 November, noticed a change in clinical picture After 10 week of low numbers For not its extremely mild cases that we are seeing Looking at the mildness of these symptoms, I think it’s been missed in other countries Severely mild, headache What is different is the extreme tiredness Body aches Mostly men under 40s I really think the vaccine plays a role here, breakthrough infections, but very very mild You can call all of the hospitals in Pretoria you will see there is not a huge influx of patients with this omicron If Africa is not going to be vaccinated you will see new variants coming up Rudo Mathivha, head of the intensive care unit at Soweto’s Baragwanath hospital We’re seeing a marked change in the demographic profile of patients with Covid-19 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% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated I’m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed Urgent preparations are needed to enable public hospitals to cope with a potential large influx of patients needing intensive care Omicron variant may be responsible for as many as 90% of the new SA cases 24% fully vaccinated Omicron variant 50 mutations overall 32 on spike protein 10 on RBD (delta has 2 RBD mutations) Presumed high viral load Prof Ravi Gupta, University of Cambridge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59418127 Beta was all immune escape and nothing else, Delta had infectivity and modest immune escape, this potentially has both to high degrees US response Already in US NY, state of emergency Africa travel restrictions from Monday US citizens allowed back TSA, 2.3 million passengers on Wednesday Germany https://www.dw.com/en/covid-germany-confirms-first-2-cases-of-omicron-variant/a-59958183 Two cases of omicron confirmed in Munich Entered Munich airport on 24th November Czech Republic Confirms first omicron case in Liberec Woman had been in Namibia Italy One omicron infection coming from Mozambique. Israel response No entry to non Israelis UK response https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBMC6S7Hf1E Brentwood in Essex and Nottingham, two cases linked Thanks to SA for information Spreads rapidly Can be spread between people that are double vaccinated Some immune escape Need to slow down seeding Time for vaccinations and boosters More African countries added Red list, 10-day hotel quarantine PCR test by 2nd day in the country, isolate until then All contacts of a detected case of omicron to self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status Increase face coverings in public Vaccines will give protection, boosters will help Boost the booster campaign Belgium, first Omicron variant case in Europe https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgium-seeks-slow-down-social-life-fight-fourth-covid-wave-2021-11-26/ Belgium, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke B.1.1.529, found in an unvaccinated person Who had developed symptoms and tested positive on Nov. 22. Young adult woman, developed symptoms 11 days after returning from a trip to Egypt via Turkey. Flu-like symptoms, but no signs of severe disease. None of her household members developed symptoms, but were being tested. Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, director of Oxford Vaccine Group https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/nov/27/covid-news-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-countries-rush-to-impose-travel-bans-on-southern-africa If you look at where most of the mutations are, they are similar to regions of th

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