New Local Study Indicates Omicron Less Severe, Even for Unvaxxed but SA Not Sold

• Scientists and researchers are finding out new information about the Omicron Covid-19 variant
• On Friday, the NICD reported that infected people are less likely to die from the virus or be hospitalised
• South Africans on social media continued to express scepticism, with others mulling over the frequent studies

CAPE TOWN - A new study informed by South African research and published on Friday paints a less grim picture about the Covid-19 Omicron variant than initially suspected.

Researches claim those infected with Omicron are less likely to succumb to the virus or even require hospitalisation than in the case with previous variants. The study was done by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and is yet to receive peer review, TimesLIVE reported.

It compared more than 11 000 cases stemming from the first wave of Covid-19 infections with over 5 000 from the Omicron-driven wave reported in November in South Africa.

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Worldwide, the Omicron variant has been seen to cause less serious disease, with authorities on the virus continuing their attempts to deduce other evidence from scientific research.

This includes whether it is due to higher immunity rates brought about by vaccination or previous illness, among others, Reuters reported. The research supposed that roughly a quarter of the lowered risk of severe disease was due to the Omicron variant's characteristics.

Citizens respond to new development

On social media, the overwhelming sentiments boarded on the volume of the research being pumped out and shoved down the throats of citizens and the glaring fact that the body was capable of fending off most diseases on its own.

Briefly News takes a look at some of the views expressed below.

@Velocity Meme wrote:

"But you people said we the unvaxxed are the ones filling up hospitals and we stand at a high risk of dying. Don't sabisa (scare) us, [please]."

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@Mnguni Kayeye Khuzwayo said:

"The jig is up. Speak to nurses in hospitals NOT just rely on media..... they'll tell you what's really going and these news sites are full of it."

@Clarence Maclere Mawela added:

"Hopefully, the end is near... Meaning we can live our normal lives just like we living alongside TB HIV and flu and more."

Tourism Minister welcomes EU Nations' Red Lists removal

Elsewhere, Briefly News recently reported that South Africa is no longer on the Red Lists of European Union (EU) countries, a decision that Lindiwe Sisulu, the former Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and current Tourism Minister, is welcoming with open arms.

The decision to remove South Africa from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s list follows the country's discovery of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Sisulu said the move was welcomed but lamented the devastating impact of the travel bans on the economy.

"The travel bans were reimposed in late November amid the peak of the tourist season, leading to over R1 billion being lost in cancelled bookings. In any event, we welcome visitors from the EU to our shores and affirm their safety is assured," said Sisulu, thanking tourism stakeholders for advocating for the removal.

Source: Briefly News