Due to the Omicron variant, cases of daily corona infection have started increasing once again in India. Although the cases here have not yet reached the level that they can be compared to the second wave, but the figures from Britain and South Africa are clearing the picture related to Omicron to a great extent. Their statistics show that Omicron is spreading very fast, but hospitalizations and deaths are much lower than in the second wave.
Peak passed in South Africa
The first case of Omicron was reported in Botswana, South Africa in the second week of November. Since then, the process of increasing cases started and South Africa was hit by the fourth wave. The average daily infection cases reached 23,437 in the week ended December 18. Since then the decline has started again. This is a clear indication that the peak has passed.
The third wave occurred in South Africa in June-July, 2021. Average daily cases reached a peak of 20,076 in the week ending July 8. Obviously the peak went above this in the fourth wave. Despite this, the number of people who lost their lives this time is very less. This is a relief. In the third wave, the weekly average for hospitalizations was above 10,000 for several days. This time it went up to about nine thousand and then started declining. The death figures are also showing a similar picture.
New cases daily in South Africa
Reduction in the number of people who lost their lives in hospital and ICU
Despite the sharp jump in cases, the number of hospitalizations and ICU hospitalizations in the UK remained lower than in the previous wave. In the current wave of infection with Omicron infection, the number of people who lost their lives due to corona has also been relatively low across the UK. Compared to the previous wave, this time the number of people who went on ventilation and lost their lives was less than half. This shows that while Omicron is highly contagious, it has not proven fatal.