Covid Spreading At Record Speed In South Africa
Covid's reproductive number is above 2 in parts of South Africa, meaning each infected person infects at least 2 others. The omicron variant is blamed. Meanwhile, France reports nine omicron cases, and Germany is locking down extra-hard on unvaccinated people.
Bloomberg:
Virus Spread Rate Gauge At Record In South Africa Epicenter
The reproductive number, a measure of how fast the coronavirus spreads, has surged to a record in Gauteng, the center of South Africa’s omicron variant outbreak. The reproductive number rose to 2.33 in Gauteng, Michelle Groome, head of health surveillance for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said on an online presentation on Friday. That means each infected person on average infects another 2.33. In the Western Cape, which includes the tourism hub of Cape Town, the number has reached 2, Keith Cloete, the provincial head of health, said on Thursday. (Cohen and Cele, 12/3)
Axios:
COVID Cases Surge In South Africa In Sign Omicron Wave Is Coming
South Africa alerted the world to the Omicron variant. Now data out of South Africa may serve as a warning of what we're facing. South Africa recorded 11,535 new cases Thursday with 22.4% of tests coming back positive — up from an average of about 300 new cases, with a 2% test positivity rate 10 days earlier. The country's top public health officials expect that exponential rise to continue as Omicron rapidly becomes the dominant variant. (Lawler, 12/2)
Bloomberg:
France Detects Nine Omicron Cases As Government Eyes Tourism Hit
France said it has detected nine cases of the omicron variant, even as President Emmanuel Macron’s government steps in with fresh promises to support the country’s hard-hit tourism industry. Cases of the new coronavirus variant were found in different parts of France and in the overseas territory of La Reunion, and the country is stepping up efforts to identify and isolate them as soon as possible, health authorities said in an emailed statement on Friday. (Torsoli, 12/3)
Reuters:
Geneva Places 2,000 People In Quarantine After Two Omicron Cases
The Swiss cantons of Geneva and Vaud have placed 2,000 people, most of them children, into quarantine after two cases of the Omicron variant were detected at an international school. Geneva, a hub for international diplomats and home to the World Health Organization (WHO) which last week classified Omicron as a SARS-CoV-2 "variant of concern", had previously confirmed one case in an individual who had returned from South Africa and another suspected case linked to the same individual. (Hughes Neghaiwi, 12/3)
Axios:
Germany Approves New COVID Restrictions For Unvaccinated People
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that people who are unvaccinated will not be allowed in nonessential shops, cultural and recreational venues, AP reports. Merkel, alongside incoming Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said the measures were necessary to avoid overflowing hospitals with coronavirus patients. The country is seeing an increase in daily infections. (Gonzalez, 12/2)
