The South African doctor and leader of the country’s medical association, Angelique Coetzee, was the one who first sounded the alarm about omikron – the new virus variant that has now spread to large parts of the world.
Two weeks ago she told the British newspaper The Telegraph about how patients came to her practice in Pretoria with unusual but mild corona symptoms.
November 18, a family of four tested positive for covid. Everyone was completely exhausted, and that was when Coetzee notified South Africa’s vaccine committee.
She said she has had two dozen patients, who tested positive with symptoms of the new variant. Most were healthy men, who “felt so tired.” Half of the patients were unvaccinated.
Intimidated by Norway
“Tsunami on the way”
Since then, the omicron variant has spread at high speed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77 countries have so far registered cases of the variant.
The United Kingdom, where the omicron variant accounts for over 20 per cent of cases nationally, is among the countries that have pressed the big red button. British Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that one million Britons may have been infected of the omikron variant by the turn of the year.
– I fear that we will face a crisis in our fight against the new variant, and we must strengthen our protection to keep friends and drive safely. Let there be no doubt, there is a tidal wave of omicrons on the way, and I fear that two doses of vaccine are not enough to give us enough protection, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a news conference Sunday night.
Everyone in England who is 18 years or older will now be offered a third dose before the New Year.
– RIVER WAVE: Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the UK fears that the country is facing a “tidal wave” of omicron. Photo: Kirsty O’Connor / Pool via REUTERS
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“Hysteria”
In an interview with Sky News South African doctor Angelique Coetzee is now dealing with the statements that one million Britons can be infected with omicron by the end of December. She advocates having ice in her stomach in the face of the virus variant.
– You have to take precautions, you have to be prepared, but not “hype” it up. Do not say that people will die of viral infections, that hospitals will be overwhelmed. It is better to wait and see, says Coetzee to the channel.
She emphasizes that preliminary reports have indicated that infected people have a mild course of the disease. However, it is believed that the omicron variant is far more contagious than the previous variants.
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There has also been great doubt about how much the vaccines protect against this variant. However, a new South African study suggests that two doses of Pfizer / Biontech vaccine provide around 33 percent protection against the infection itself, while providing 70 percent protection against serious illness.
To Sky News, the South African doctor suggests that she thinks Boris Johnson is overreacting in the face of the virus variant.
– Prime Minister, do not say these things, it is hysteria, says Coetzee, adding:
– If you tell people that they’re going to be overwhelmed, a million cases (…). Remember that the UK is much better vaccinated than South Africa, and if you should get a breakthrough infection, there are mild cases – so let’s see what happens first, she says.
