NOW FOR OMICRON
YOU South Africa|9 December 2021
All you need to know about the new Covid variant that’s sent the world into a spin
NASIFA SULAIMAN & SIPHOKAZI ZAMA
NOW FOR OMICRON
FOR a while we were doing okay. We’d emerged from the third wave and our Covid-19 caseload was the lowest it had been since the start of the pandemic.

Europe was dominating headlines as it became the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic once more – Austria went into full lockdown and restrictions were put on public life in several countries.

Here, though, we were daring to dream that we might not have a severe fourth wave, especially as we’d already seen the worst of the Delta variant run rampant throughout Europe.

And then – seemingly overnight – South Africa and its neighbouring countries once again became the pariahs of the pandemic when SA scientists reported the discovery of a worrying new variant that took even top science brains by surprise.

Omicron, as it was named by the World Health Organisation, sent our numbers soaring. Daily new infections rose from an average of 275 to 1 600 in a week.

Just a few days later figures had jumped to 3 220, with Gauteng accounting for 81% of cases.

And across the world borders were being closed to South Africans amid cries of discrimination and haste.

We unpack everything scientists know so far about Omicron – and what you can do to fight it.

BOOSTERS

In November, the government announced that the almost 500 000 healthcare workers who received the J&J vaccine through the Sisonke trial programme will now be offered a booster dose as part of the Sisonke 2 booster study.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 9 December 2021-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 9 December 2021-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS YOU SOUTH AFRICAAlle anzeigen
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024