Covid: South Africa 'punished' for detecting new Omicron variant

[Jilly_in_VA]

South Africa has complained it is being punished - instead of applauded - for discovering Omicron, a concerning new variant of Covid-19.

The foreign ministry made the statement as countries around the world restrict travel from southern African countries as details of the spread emerged.

Early evidence suggests Omicron has a higher re-infection risk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that the new variant was being considered as "of concern".

Several cases have been identified in Europe, including two in the UK and one in Belgium. Single suspected cases were also found in Germany and the Czech republic.

The new variant has also been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.

Hundreds of passengers arriving in the Netherlands from South Africa are being tested for the new variant.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59442129

[GusBob]

1. Good news in the link

The infected people are not getting real sick, like to hospital illness. Just sore and tired

As to SA being punished, trumpers will still call it the China virus. They need to work on that 24% vax rate

And what’s with all them folks on the KLM flights not wearing masks? Punish that shit now

[LisaL]

4. Hospitalizations and deaths always lag infection numbers.

NT

[GusBob]

6. True but the symptoms are not described as severe

Tiredness and sore bodies, no coughing or breathing issues were reported in the article

[LisaL]

7. That's how it starts-then boom!

It's way too early to know how deadly it will turn out to be. It appears to be very contagious, so just by sheer number of infections, deaths and hospitalizations will likely go up, even if it's not actually more deadly than delta.
It seems to be affecting young people more (but maybe just because it's still early and young people are more likely to be out and about).

“Young people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated,” said Mathivha. “I’m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed.”

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/covid-variant-threat-worldwide-scramble-81417682

[mopinko]

2. it's been a problem all along- he who tests the most, looks the worst.

an odd bias in the statistics that doesnt seem to be being recognized.

[Klaralven]

3. It was first detected in Botswana November 11. Not reported until later.

It was detected in a traveler from South Africa who was in quarantine in Hong Kong. I think that this is what forced South Africa to report it.

As of late November, elsewhere in the world, there have been three confirmed cases of the new variant.

Belgium became the first European country to confirm the presence of the new variant in a traveler returning from Egypt to Belgium.

Another traveler, who had been in South Africa, was diagnosed with the new variant in Hong Kong.

And there is one case of omicron in Israel. Two other people there are waiting for their diagnoses to be confirmed. The one person who has been confirmed as having the virus had just returned to Israel from Malawi. All three people were vaccinated.

Hundreds more are awaiting COVID test results at the Amsterdam airport as passengers from two flights from South Africa arrived after the Dutch government announced it was banning all air travel from the country earlier on Friday.

https://www.dw.com/en/covid-what-we-know-about-the-omicron-variant/a-59948143

Once other countries start detecting it in travelers, it can't be kept quiet.

[captain queeg]

5. I'm not sure why the restrictions should be considered punishment

but I guess from a certain viewpoint,it would. It’s good they have discovered it pretty early. Sure seems like this will be the new normal. Something like this was inevitable as many scientists have been saying for years. We are just lucky it hasn’t been worse and that vaccines were developed so fast

The Israelis must be one of the most mobile societies in the world. They seem to always get the latest variation. Maybe they are just way more diligent about testing.

[chowder66]

8. It's not punishment. It's practicality.

[pinkstarburst]

9. They are having a heavy outbreak there

Restrictions to try to slow the spread are not "punishment" they are common sense.

Also, South Africa has a terrible vaccination rate, something like 23%, because even though they have tons of vaccine available and in stock, their population refuses to get vaccinated. It's even worse than the vaccine refusal we're seeing here in the US.

So they need to clean up their problems at home before whining that these restrictions are unjustified.

[Wingus Dingus]

10. They should understand the need for restrictions.

They want to be rewarded with freedom of travel instead?