South African scientists have detected two new sublineages of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. According to Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response & innovation, South Africa, the lineages have been named BA.4 and BA.5. However, he said, the detection was no cause for alarm and it … Read more
South Africa is facing an “unprecedented rise” in new COVID-19 cases over a short time due to the Omicron variant, top scientist Michelle Groome of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Friday. Groome told a media briefing that although additional data on the varient detected in the country last month is still … Read more
Dec. 2, 2021 — South Africa’s COVID-19 cases almost doubled within 24 hours, jumping from a reported 4,300 new cases on Tuesday to 8,500 new daily cases on Wednesday, according to the BBC. Health officials have confirmed that the new Omicron variant has become the dominant coronavirus strain in South Africa and is driving a … Read more