Covid-19 round-up: ‘Do not panic’ over new Omicron variant and likely fifth wave
In Covid-19-related news this week, health experts urge the public not to panic following reports of the Omicron variant and warn that a fifth Covid-19 wave is likely to occur in May.
Covid-19 fifth wave likely expected in early May, warns Professor Abdool Karim
Prominent infectious disease expert, Professor Abdool Karim warned that a fifth Covid-19 wave is likely to hit the country in early May.
According to Professor Karim, this will largely be dependent on the emergence of a new coronavirus variant.
“If the past trends continue, we can expect that we will see a fifth wave sometime in early May.”
Read more on The Citizen
Covid XE variant: South Africans shouldn’t panic about new Omicron mutation
Health experts have urged South Africans not to panic over ‘XE’, the new Covid-19 mutant strain of the Omicron variant, following reports by the World Health Organisation that it may be more transmissible than any other strain thus far.
According to epidemiologist and senior lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Dr Elize Webb, although the variant was first detected in the United Kingdom in mid-January, with more than 600 cases identified there so far, no other country has identified a case of the sub-variant.
Read more on The Citizen
Covid-19 statistics
As of April 14, a total of 3 737 346 positive cases had been recorded in South Africa since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the preceding 24 hours, 1 768 new cases and 6 new deaths were reported in the last 24 to 48 hours.
The cumulative death toll was 100 138 while recoveries stood at 3 625 407. The total number of vaccines administered was 34 350 787.
*Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as ‘fake news’) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth, in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor, Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za)
