Western Cape confirms at least 16 cases of Omicron variant amid fourth wave concerns

Western Cape Health authorities say at least 16 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been confirmed in the province. This comes ahead of a fourth wave, that’s expected in the next two weeks.

The provincial Department of Health Head, Keith Cloete says they have seen a rapid increase in the number of daily coronavirus infections. He was addressing the media during an online briefing.

“We are now seeing very clear increases and rapid increases in the number of daily cases in the Western Cape and now averaging 200 diagnoses per day. Over the last seven days, a proportion of positives has now jumped to over 8.2%. Our admissions are showing an early increase so it’s early days, there are about eleven admissions now per day and the deaths remain low with less than two deaths per day,” says Cloete.

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Meanwhile, the Department of Health says indications are that South Africa is now in the early stages of the fourth wave. The department briefed the oversight committee on Health on the Omicron variant.

Infectious Diseases Specialist, Dr Richard Lessells says Gauteng has more cases, however, there is a sustained increase in a number of other provinces as well.

“It’s very likely that we are now in the very early stages of the fourth wave and now what I’m showing you is just that although this is most advanced in Gauteng. You now starting to see a sustained increase in most of the provinces, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape so although Gauteng is ahead of all the other provinces, we starting to see the pattern across different provinces,” says Lessells.

Dr Fundile Nyati on the Omicron variant: