Research Shows Omicron Hospitalisation Stays Shorter, Less Need for Oxygen

LOCAL NEWS

• Research on the Omicron variant in Tshwane shows that while there has been a spike in hospital admissions, most are on room-air breathing.
  • The average length of stay in hospital is shorter than previous waves; most admissions are unvaccinated; vaccinated admissions have other chronic illnesses, and the majority of cases are younger people under the age of 50
• SA records 11,125 new cases of Covid-19 & 1 additional death.
  • Ramaphosa is expected to receive the report on vaccine mandates soon, as businesses, unions and health groups call for the policy to be implemented. The SA Medical Research Council says hospital admissions are dominated by unvaccinated people.
  • Unions have called for future lockdown restrictions to only apply to those who refuse to get vaccinated. Private companies, universities, and even some schools have already adopted mandatory vaccination policies, with more expected to follow suit
• IFP party pushes for a debate on fuel price hikes and the reduction and restructuring of fuel price levies which make up over a third of the price of a litre fuel. IFP says it will push this matter in Parliament later this week.
  • Auto Association has also called for an audit of the processes & components which comprise the fuel price. Economists have warned that the latest rise could cripple economic activity, but note that prices are expected to fall into 1Q22
• SACP says hung Gauteng metros are in a very rocky, unstable condition with the current coalitions. Says DA’s failure to announce mayoral committee members in three metros already shows this with coalition talks still underway.
  • Notes Coalitions formed on an anti-ANC basis, and not principle, are likely to fail - SABC