1/4 #Omicron is now the dominant #COVID19 variant in South Africa's Gauteng province but promising early data from South Africa that vaccines remain strongly protective against serious Coviid-19 death & disease. 
2/4 In SA's Gauteng province, hospitalisations & deaths are rising much more slowly than increases in cases, indicating that vaccines are keeping people out of hospitals. Early data suggests that vaccines may keep hospitalisations lower in this 4th wave than in 3rd. #Omicron
3/4 There is a shift in who is ending up in hospital with #COVID19 in Gauteng. 20 to 35-year-olds now make up a larger share of admissions than 50+, very likely due to significantly lower vaccination coverage among this younger group, shows @GautengHealth data #Omicron
4/4 Modelling suggests that although hospital bed need will surge with the need for about 4000 beds for #COVID19 admissions in early and mid-Dec, this peak is still predicted to be lower than the 3rd wave. However, Gauteng officials warn that bed need will still be substantial
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