As we look at more severe outcomes, the numbers are even lower. ICU beds track well below the Delta trajectory.
No restrictions are needed to help hospitals in any way.
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Only 3-4% of patients admitted with #Omicron end up on ventilators.
For Delta, 10-11% of patients ended up on ventilators.
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Short term projections for Gauteng cases, total in hospital, ICU beds and ventilated beds.
All variables, except ventilated beds are running below the projections from 6 days ago.
The 7d growthrate for ventilated beds is 13% per day, not 11% per day (projection).
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Considering that a significant portion of patients in hospital have not been infected before, or are not vaccinated, #Omicron must be significantly less virulent.
The lower age of admissions alone cannot explain the significant drop in disease severity.
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South Africa is experiencing a very mild wave with #Omicron. The hospitals are easily coping even though case levels in Gauteng will exceed Delta levels. South Africa currently only has light restrictions.
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Despite light restrictions it is expected that only 15-25% of the country will be infected with #Omicron.
The South African context is unique. 70% of the population have had Covid-19 already. Only 50% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.
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Scenario 1: #Omicron escapes vaccine and natural immunity to a significant extent.
In this scenario, everyone in South Africa would have been vulnerable to Omicron, so the low deaths could then only be ascribed to a significantly lower virulence of the Omicron itself.
The portion of hospital patients ending up in ICU is much lower (10%) compared to Delta (24%).
Considering that a significant portion of patients in hospital have not been infected before, or are not vaccinated, #Omicron must be significantly less virulent.