SA, where the Omicron coronavirus variant is driving a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, has seen a 255% increase in infections in the past seven days, but only 6% of intensive care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients,
Balde's comments at a news conference follow early anecdotal accounts by South African doctors and researchers that Omicron is causing mainly mild disease.
The warning by the WHO's vaccine director, Kate O'Brien, comes as supplies to the COVAX dose-sharing programme run by the WHO and vaccine charity GAVI have increased in the past few months due to donations from wealthy countries and after India eased limits on exports of vaccines.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | Study suggests Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine only partially protects against OmicronCoronavirus updates.
Read more »
LIVE | Covid-19 in SA: 19 842 new cases, 36 more deaths | News24South Africa remains on Alert Level 1 as the threat of a fourth wave looms. Meanwhile, the discovery that the Omicron coronavirus variant has led to global fears and travel bans targeted at southern African countries.
Read more »
MICHAEL FRIDJHON: How Covid-19 may have helped SA shine at Global Wine ChallengeThe country secured five of the 20 trophy positions and five of the runners-up double gold medals
Read more »
MICHAEL FRIDJHON: How Covid-19 may have helped SA shine at Global Wine ChallengeThe country secured five of the 20 trophy positions and five of the runners-up double gold medals
Read more »
Team SA withdraw from youth games amid Covid-19 outbreakTeam SA are beating a hasty retreat from the Region 5 Youth Games in Maseru in the face of a Covid-19 onslaught.
Read more »