#JoePhaahla: [Thread] 1. 8 days ago SA announced the detection of the #OmicronVariant 2. SA's daily new #COVID19 cases = increased rapidly (within a wk) from a few 100 2 Thu's 11,535 3. Much steeper rise than in previous waves 4. + rates = increased from 1-2% (wk ago) to 22.4%
2. 1. The #OmicronVariant outbreaks started in Tshwane and then spread to Jhb, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng 2. It has now spread to every province 3. Increases huge in: WC, KZN, LP, NW, MP (only FS and NC still relatively low nrs)
3. 1. We have 47 000 active #COVID19 cases and hospital admission are below 3000 2. We've seen many vaccinated people getting infected with the #OmicronVariant, but cases seem to be mild 3. We have spare be capacity in both the private and public health sectors
3.
SA is disappointed in the hypocrisy of nations such (e.g. UK, US) who sing our praises for our ability 2 detect the #OmicronVariant so fast and being transparent but who then implemented travel bans. That is counterproductive. We thank nations who have not followed that path.
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[Thread] JUST IN: 1. NEW #OmicronVariant data from the Steve Biko/Tshwane District Hospital Complex via @MRCza. Tshwane = where SA's Omicron outbreak started
1. Data = for the 1st 2 weeks of the outbreak (14-29 Nov) 2. Past 5 days (29 Nov-3 Dec) = exponential increase in cases
2. 1. 21% of #COVID19 patients = on oxygen because of COVID 2. This is lower than previous waves 3. 76% of patients = incidental COVID admissions (they were admitted 4 other conditions + found out they had COVID when they had to do a test)
Study: bit.ly/3Ig0753
3. What do we know about admitted patients' vaccination status?
Snapshot of 2 Dec:
Of 38 adults in #COVID19 wards:
* 6 = vaccinated
* 24 = unvaccinated
* 8 = unknown vaccination status
Of 9 patients with COVID pneumonia
* 8 = unvaccinated, 1 is a child
* 1 = vaccinated
[Thread] 1. SA scientists have found that people who have had #COVID19 and is exposed to #SARSCoV2 again are 3x more likely to get reinfected if they were exposed to the #Omicron variant than to the Beta or #DeltaVariant. What does this mean?
2. In easy speak it means the #OmicronVariant is 3x better than the Beta or #DeltaVariant at figuring out how to get around the protection that our antibodies offer against getting reinfected with #COVID. (These are antibodies we get after natural infection, not vaccination.)
3. In science speak it means the #OmicronVariant poses a 3-fold increase in relative risk for reinfection (when compared to the Beta or #DeltaVariant).
[Thread] @nicd_sa, Michelle Groome and Waasila Jassat:
1. SA's 7-day moving average of new daily #COVID19 cases has increased from 332 on 16 Nov to 4,814 on 1 Dec (particularly high increase over the last 2 days) 2. This increase is unprecedented (higher than in any other wave)
2. The most rapid increase in new #COVID cases has been seen in Gauteng (red line on left graph)
3. Test positivity rates are a good indication of how rapidly a virus is spreading. + rate = nr of tests coming out +.
Over the past week SA's test +rate for #COVID19 has increased from 1-2% to Thurday's 22.4%. Increases over the last 3 days have been particularly high.
[Thread] 1. From TODAY (1 Dec) adults in SA with certain conditions that weaken their immune systems can access an additional #COVID19 vaccine dose. How do you get a dose? Your doctor/nurse needs to fill out a form. Download it here: bit.ly/31jRuW4
2. You need to register on the #EVDS for an additional dose and take the form that your doc/nurse filled out with you to the vaccination site. Here's how it works:
3. Which conditions qualify? 1. Haematological or immune malignancy 2. Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency disorder 3. HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/µL within the last 6 months 4. Asplenia
[Thread] What is the significance of the license agreement #JnJ will grant @aspenpharma to fill and finish an Aspen brand of #JnJ's #COVID jab?
Aspen will be able to sell their jabs to African countries. Currently they can't, they have to hand the jabs back to JnJ to sell.
2. #JnJ is essentially giving Aspen a voluntary license to make (fill and finish) its vaccine and sharing the intellectual property rights with Aspen to do this.
3. Africa imports 99% of its vaccines from outside the continent. Having an African manufacturer (to fill and finish) that will only supply #COVID19 jabs to Africa will increase access to supplies on the continent.
BREAKING [Thread] 1. Janssen Pharmaceuticals will grant @aspenpharma a license 2 fill + finish #JnJ's #COVID19 jab under its own brand + sell it to African countries. Currently, the jabs Aspen "fill and finish" have to be handed back to JnJ + they then sell it to who they want.
2. The jabs that Aspen will "fill and finish" under the new agreement will: 1. Be called Aspenovax (#JnJ will give Aspen the IP rights to make its own brand) 2. Will use drug substance (the key ingredient) supplied by JnJ
3. Aspen will be able to sell its Aspenovax jabs (the same thing as a #JnJ jab, just a different name) to
public sector markets in Africa through transactions with designated multilateral organisations and with national governments of member states of the African Union.