Thread by @miamalan

#JoePhaahla (health min) on #Omicron at Fri's @healthza briefing:

[Thread]

1. Omicron = detected in 76+ countries
2. All SA's 9 provinces = in 4th wave, although NC is still technically entering its 4th wave (but that's according to a calculation formula, not in practice)

2. #JoePhaahla:
1. Although Gauteng = still highest nr of new #COVID19 cases, all 9 provinces in SA have seen a rapid rise in new cases
2. GP (where SA's #Omicron outbreak started): Thu = 27% of new #COVID19 cases vs. 7-10 days ago, GP cases accounted for 70-80% of new cases

3. #JoePhaahla:
The nr of 4th wave #COVID19 cases has exceeded the peaks of waves 1, 2 (Beta), 3 (#Delta)

By how much?
Wave 1: 21 new cases/100,00 people
Wave 2: 32 new cases/100,000 people
Wave 3: 33 new cases/100,000 people
Wave 4 (#Omicron): 37 new cases/100,000 people

4. #JoePhaahla:
1. #COVID19 test positivity rates:
- 8 provinces (except for GP) have + rates of over 30% (so about 1/3 tests = come out +)
- GP used to be 35%+, but is now decreasing
2. EC, FS, NC, WC = more than 100% increase in daily new #COVID cases vs. previous 7 days

5. #JoePhaahla:
1. The active #COVID19 cases in SA now stand at 210 635
2. This is 10% higher than the previous 24 hours
3. The good news our recovery rate = good at 91%

6. #JoePhaahla:
1. Hospital admissions = 70% rise over the past 7 days, but in absolute numbers = at a fairly low level (because we come from a low base nr)
2. Admissions = much lower % of #COVID19 cases than in 3rd wave (#Delta)
2. Nr of 4th wave admissions so far = 7,614

7. #JoePhaahla:
1. 2nd week, 3rd wave (#Delta, 17-24 Jun): 4,485 new #COVID cases/day and 888 hospitalisations/day (19% of Covid cases = admitted)
2. 2nd week, 4th wave (Omicron, 9-15 Dec): 20,207 new cases/day, hospital admissions = 348/day (1.7% of COVID cases = admitted)

8. #JoePhaahla:
1. GP = early indications that the 4th #COVID wave peak = reached, but cases in all other 8 provinces = rapidly rising
2. Across SA = milder cases, but not necessarily because #Omicron = less virulent, could be vaxx coverage (60+ years = 66% vaxxed with 1 dose)

9. #JoePhaahla:
1. @healthza = very worried about the decline in uptake of #CVID19 vaccinations, especially over last 7-10 days
2. Daily doses = 100 000 to 130 000 which is far below the target of 250 000 per day

10. #JoePhaahla:
1. The only way to reduce the "power" #COVID19 has over us is through vaccination
2. Over the Dec holidays a nr of fixed vaxx sites will remain open and there will be pop-up sites in shopping males, etc

11. #JoePhaahla:
What will happen to lockdown levels over the holidays?

1. SA will remain at alert level 1 lockdown for now
2. But @heatlhza will monitor the situation and make recommendations for increased restrictions if necessary