Over 70% of South Africans have had Covid-19, which is masking severity of Omicron, scientist says

Vaccinologist Shabir Madhi says about 20% has been infected previously when the Beta variant emerged a year ago

Visitors queue for vaccines at a mass Covid-19 vaccination site in Johannesburg on December 9. Picture: WALDO SWIEGERS

Since the discovery of the variant in SA and Botswana was announced on November 25, hospitalisation rates in SA have risen, though at a much slower pace than in previous waves, even as cases are rising more rapidly. The number of deaths has also been lower. “The evolution of the Omicron variant is coming at a very different stage of the pandemic,” Madhi said in an interview with the Global Health Crisis Co-ordination Center. “That is important to keep at the back of our minds when we see what is unfolding in SA and what we might see in other settings, which might have a very different epidemiology.”

The disparity between official statistics and the likely extent of infections is more pronounced in SA, though not unique. The US Centers for Disease Control estimates that over the course of the pandemic until September, there were 146.6-million infections and 921,000 deaths as a result of Covid-19. Official statistics show more than 50-million infections and 799,000 deaths.

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