Hospital data reveals FIVE encouraging signs from SA’s ‘Omicron hot-spot’
Maybe, just maybe, we can all take some heart from the latest hospital data coming out of Tshwane. The Omicron hot-spot has seen an explosion of cases in the past few weeks, and the spike in infections has spread across the country. However, early studies point towards some positive developments.
Usual virus behaviours not seen in Omicron hot-spot
The research into the ‘early experience of the patient profile’ at the Steve Biko/Tshwane District Hospital Complex in Pretoria – understood to be the ‘global epicentre’ of the Omicron outbreak – has been published by the SA Medical Research Council. And it’s already turned up some fascinating results…
As cases start to climb, COVID-19 death rates also creep upwards. That has not been reported with Omicron infections at this stage, however – breaking an established pattern seen in our previous three virus waves.
FIVE encouraging signs coming from South Africa’s Omicron hot-spot – and its hospital data
Those hospitalised in ‘Omicron wave’ are LESS DEPENDENT on ventilation
- Yes, more cases do lead to more hospitalisations – but the Omicron-positive appear to be ‘less reliant’ on ventilation aids:
“The main observation that we have made over the last two weeks is that the majority of patients in the COVID wards have not been oxygen-dependent, and the numbers of patients in high care on double oxygen, High Flow Nasal Oxygen or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) were noticeably higher in previous waves.”
SAMRC
Child admissions up… but death rates have flatlined
- We’ve been told that more kids are in hospital than usual, due to Omicron – but mortality figures are ‘favourable’:
“There were no COVID-related deaths among 34 admissions in the pediatric COVID wards over the last two weeks. This compares favorably to the proportion of deaths at the complex over the past 18 months – which was 17%.”
SAMRC
Most COVID-positive patients ‘were not even admitted because of the virus’
- According to the data, a majority of patients in this cluster didn’t come in because of COVID – a very good sign:
“In summary, the first impression on examination of the 166 patients admitted to the Steve Biko / Tshwane District Hospital Complex – since the Omicron variant made an appearance – is that the majority of hospital admissions are for diagnoses unrelated to COVID-19.”
“The SARS-CoV-2 positivity is an incidental finding in these patients and is largely driven by hospital policy requiring testing of all patients requiring admission to the hospital.”
SAMRC
Omicron is now presenting ‘different picture’ to all three previous waves – and that’s a good thing!
- Comparatively speaking, hospitalisations and deaths are LOW – compared with the same points in other COVID waves:
“The relatively low number of COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalizations in the general, high care and ICU wards constitutes a very different picture compared to the beginning of previous waves. A detailed analysis comparing the current picture with previous waves is still being conducted.”
SAMRC
Vaccinated elders less likely to be hospitalised than unvaccinated younger adults, early data suggests
- The jab effect is in full swing, with younger patients (mostly unvaccinated) occupying more beds than older patients (mostly vaccinated) as a result of the Omicron spread.
“What is clear though is that the age profile is different from previous waves. It may be that this is a vaccination effect as 57 % of people over the age of 50 have been vaccinated in the province compared to 34% in the 18-to-49-year group.”
SAMRC
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