Amid Omicron scare, South African president makes startling revelation

Moscow (Russia): Hospital admissions in South Africa are not on the rise, despite a jump in active Covid-19 cases triggered by the new Omicron strain, country's president Cyril Ramaphosa has said.

"Our hospital admissions are not increasing at an alarming rate meaning that people who may be testing positive for new Covid-19 variant Omicron are not in large numbers being admitted to hospitals," Cyril Ramaphosa was reported as saying. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3000"] South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: Social media[/caption] Also read | Air pollution: Delhi's air quality remains stagnant in 'very poor' category The president, who is currently on an official visit to Ghana, has also criticised the nations that imposed travel restrictions on South Africa and a number of other African states after the detection of the Omicron variant in the country. According to South Africa Health Minister Joe Phaahla, people must not worry as the new variant is more transmissible, but seems to bring milder illness, as hospital admissions appear to show. "The tests still have to be done and the research still needs to be done that whilst Omicron spreads, it does not seem to be resulting in greater numbers of hospital admissions. We should take heart from that," the president added. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="930"] According to South Africa Health Minister Joe Phaahla, people must not worry as the new variant is more transmissible, but seems to bring milder illness. Photo: Social media[/caption] Also read | Working during night shift? Follow these tips to deal with health issues Since the discovery of the new coronavirus variant in South Africa at the end of November, active Covid-19 cases in the country rose from 19,302 to over 75,000. It was marked as a 'variant of concern' due to its high infection rates by the World Health Organization prompting countries worldwide to enforce new travel restrictions. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Amid Omicron scare, the US has made it mandatory for all incoming passengers to carry a negative Covid-19 test report. Photo: Social media[/caption] US makes it must for passengers to carry negative Covid-19 test report The United States (US) has made it mandatory for all incoming passengers, including those from India, to carry a negative Covid-19 test report or proof of recovery from the disease. The step has been taken amid a a rising number of cases of the new variant in the United States. Read more -PTC News