… but local residents still refuse to adhere to health protocols
With the announcement last week, of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, detected in South Africa, many countries have since closed their borders to South Africa and some of its neighbouring countries, such as Botswana and Zimbabwe. More worrisome, this past week has seen a huge spike in people being infected with Covid, more so amongst the younger generation. Whilst just last Monday, the infections reported for the day in SA stood at 312 cases, yesterday (Thursday Dec 2), the daily figure had spiked to a whopping 11,535 infections. The Laudium Sun has also received a number of reports of a high number of young learners attending school in the area, being infected. Despite President Ramaphosa’s warning, last Sunday, for year-end celebrations to be postponed, many matriculants from local schools still continued this week with matric year-end functions (having the blessing of teachers and parents), which has resulted in a further rise of Covid infections. Flamboyant Laudium doctor, Hamzah Bava told the Laudium Sun, “The infection figures in Laudium and the surrounding areas have shockingly increased within the period of a week. I know of about 150 infected cases, locally. What is very worrying is that for the first time, we are seeing many of the younger people being infected, with some even being treated in hospitals. I also know of cases where two-year-olds were infected. Thankfully, we are also noticing that most of those who have now been infected and have been vaccinated, are experiencing much milder symptoms, which is encouraging and also proves that the vaccines are helping. However, it is unfortunate that many within our community still refuse to be vaccinated and are not even adhering to social health protocols in public places. I cannot stress enough, the importance of adhering to the health guidelines of washing hands regularly, keeping windows open when gathering indoors, social distancing and wearing of masks covering the nose and mouth.”
•According to scientists from South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), vaccines are still believed to protect against severe symptoms of the Omicron variant.
•Only 24% of South Africans have been fully vaccinated against the Covid virus.
•Most of the people who have been hospitalized, have NOT been vaccinated, according to the NICD.
•Omicron seems to carry a higher Covid re-infection risk.
• More kids are being admitted during the current fourth wave of infections than the early stages of Covid-19.
• Children under the age of 2 account for about 10% of total hospital admissions in the Omicron epicenter, Tshwane.
• “In Tshwane, 52 children under the age of 2 diagnosed with the coronavirus, have been admitted to hospital and one has died,” said Waasila Jassat, a public health specialist at the NICD.
•“Very young children have an immature immune system and they are also not vaccinated, so they are more at risk,” said Jassat.
