Covid-19 reinfection risk much greater with Omicron, warns Phaahla
Health Minister Joe Phaahla says preliminary evidence suggests that there may be an increased risk of Covid-19 reinfection with the Omicron variant.
Phaahla briefed the media on the latest developments around Covid-19 and the government’s vaccination campaign on Friday.
“In terms of whether prior infection protects you, preliminary evidence suggests that there may be an increased risk of reinfection with this variant. People who have had previous Covid-19 could become infected more easily with this variant as compared to previous variants of concern.
“A pre-print, not yet peer reviewed article, has been published on the risk of reinfection in South Africa reporting a two to three times increase of reinfection. Reinfection is defined as a positive test after 90 days have passed from the previous infection. But more information is required and will become available in the next few days and weeks.”
The number of people testing positive due to the new Omicron variant keeps soaring in Gauteng.
It is seen as the main driver of the fourth wave.
Statistics released by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Thursday show that over 22 391 people tested positive for the deadly virus with Gauteng accounting for 50% of the figure.
Since the emergence of the Omicron variant, Gauteng’s weekly cases have increased by 400% while hospital admissions in the province have also increased by 200%.
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