<p>Cases of COVID-19 appear to be tapering off after reaching a peak in South Africa, where the new variant dubbed Omicron was first discovered, according to a new report.</p>
<p>&#8220;Gauteng province has seen a meteoric rise infections since mid-November, when the first cases of the highly-evolved strain started appearing — jumping from 58 to 11,703 as of yesterday,&#8221; The Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10292185/Covid-cases-reaching-peak-Omicron-epicentre-South-Africa-expert-claims.html">reported</a>. But the U.K. paper said data suggests the spread may have already peaked, which a British expert hailed as &#8220;tentative good news.&#8221;</p>
<p>Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London who has been following the outbreak, said infections had been rising by about 25% a day since November 15, but &#8220;over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off their previous exponential rise,&#8221; the Mail said.</p>
<p>The Mail also said an analysis of hospitalizations in South Africa suggests Omicron is causing less severe symptoms than previous variants and the original virus. &#8220;The variant has caused 60 percent fewer hospitalized patients going to intensive care in Gauteng compared to Delta,&#8221; said the paper.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said &#8220;the number of [hospital] admissions is very low&#8221; in South Africa compared with the Delta wave, even though the number of infections has been higher than with the previous strain.</p>
<p>When word of the new variant first emerged, panic ensued.</p>
<p>The WHO said Omicron poses a “very high” global risk and could bypass even those who have been vaccinated. The strain is a “highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations… some of which are concerning and may be associated with immune escape potential and higher transmissibility,” the U.N. agency said.</p>
<p>“The overall global risk related to the new variant … is assessed as very high,” WHO said, adding that Omicron “has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic.”</p>
<p>But a doctor in South Africa said shortly after Omicron emerged that&#8217;s not what he was seeing. &#8220;A South African doctor who was one of the first to suspect a different coronavirus strain has said that symptoms of the Omicron variant appear to be mild and could be treated at home,&#8221; <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/omicron-symptoms-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-compare-to-other-covid-infections-12482061">according</a> to The Sun newspaper. &#8220;Dr. Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of South African Medical Association, told Reuters that on 18 November she noticed seven patients at her clinic who had symptoms different from the dominant Delta variant, albeit &#8216;very mild.'&#8221;</p>
<p>“Their symptoms were so different and so mild from those I had treated before,” Coetzee told <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/south-african-doctor-raised-alarm-omicron-variant-says-symptoms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Telegraph</a>.</p>
<p>And early data showed that Omicron may not be as bad as the original COVID-19, or the variant Delta. &#8220;Researchers at a major hospital complex in Pretoria reported that their patients with the coronavirus are much less sick than those they have treated before, and that other hospitals are seeing the same trends,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/world/africa/omicron-coronavirus-research-spread.html">reported</a>. &#8220;In fact, they said, most of their infected patients were admitted for other reasons and have no Covid symptoms.&#8221;</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Has Omicron Outbreak Already Peaked In South Africa’s ‘Ground Zero’?

CONTINUE READING

Vegas Family Claims Craft Crashed In Backyard, 9-Foot Aliens Emerged

Endless Pride: British Library Posts About Fish That Can Change Its Sex

Russia Taking Over Ukraine Not A ‘Top Foreign Policy Priority,’ GOP Presidential Candidate Says

America Has Spoken: There Are Two Genders. Period.

NY Times, WaPo Do Cartwheels To Spin Biden’s Clumsy Tumble; Twitterers Shred Them

Here’s The Weirdest Story You’ll Ever Read About Sen. Dianne Feinstein

News and Commentary

Omicron Variant

South Africa

World Health Organization

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News and Commentary —

Has Omicron Outbreak Already Peaked In South Africa’s ‘Ground Zero’?