SAMA: New Covid-19 strain does not warrant travel ban
The South
African Medical Association (SAMA) says the hype around the new Covid-19
strain, Omicron, does not warrant a travel ban against South Africa.
“We are not saying that people are not going to be admitted to hospital, what we saying is for now looking at the hype created across the world and what our experience on the ground is, it is not the same and does not even warrant us to be placed on a red-travel list by most countries,” says SAMA’s chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee.
She says Gauteng, as it has the most cases of the new strain is the epicenter.
But so far the symptoms have been mild.
“As we work in Gauteng, in Pretoria which is the epicenter of the new Omicron strain, I have spoke to other colleagues as well, and so far none of us have admitted any patients.
“The symptoms are quite mild, it might be a fast-spreading virus but for now the clinical picture is one of mild disease, mostly around fatigue and that’s what brings the patients to the doctor.”
Coetzee explains that the most one has experience so far is serve fatigue, which does not last long.
“The serve fatigue (lasts) for a day or two with a bit of body aches and pains, headaches, some have a bit of a scratchy throat or slight dry cough which is also not very prominent.”
She adds that age group so far have been those under the age 40 and the current weather has played a role.
“What we are seeing, in beginning is more men and young age groups of 40 years and younger.
“Going forward we may see more sick people if they get flu and the virus, especially with the current weather pattern but we quite sure it is not going to last.”
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