https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/omicron-variant-may-signal-the-end-of-covid-suggests-south-african-health-expert/news-story/9788a1687cfad162d4d18089aa952affHealth experts in South Africa, where the new Omicron Covid variant was first identified, have expressed hope that a massive surge in infections throughout their country will not be matched by increases in hospitalisations and deaths.
One leading voice even believes Omicron could, counterintuitively, spell “the end of Covid”.
Governments around the world have reacted with caution to the emergence of Omicron. Many countries have reimposed border restrictions while they wait to see whether the variant’s large number of mutations make it more dangerous than previous forms of Covid – deadlier, more transmissible or better able to evade the vaccines.
Australia has introduced temporary bans on travel from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.
The federal government has also“paused” plans to ease border restrictionsfor fully vaccinated visa holders.
Clearly, the world is worried. But it’s possible that Omicron is no more virulent, or perhaps less virulent, than previous Covid variants.
Dr Richard Friedland is CEO of the Netcare Group, which operates South Africa’s largest private healthcare network, including more than 50 hospitals.
South Africa is currently in the midst of its fourth Covid wave. In the three previous waves, large increases in the Covid positivity rate were followed by similarly worrying increases in hospital admissions throughout Netcare’s network.
This time, Dr Friedland says, that does not appear to be happening.
