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<\/a><\/p>\nNew daily cases in South Africa could surge to 10,000 by the end of the week, up from fewer than 3,000 on Saturday, according to Salim Abdul Karim, a clinical infectious disease epidemiologist.<\/p>\n
Heath department data shows omicron is now the dominant strain. While the increased caseload is expected to put pressure on hospitals, there is no need to panic, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how to assess this and adjust our strategies accordingly,\u201d Karim said during an online briefing on Monday. \u201cCurrent treatments are still effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unben Pillay, a doctor in South Africa, said cases are \u201cvery mild but it is early days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen patients present with flu like symptoms, dry cough, fever, night sweats and general body pains,\u201d he said. \u201cI think this in keeping with all the other Covid waves we have seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
The government has so far eschewed imposing stricter curbs to slow transmission of the variant, but says it will reconsider its position over the next week. It\u2019s also criticized the travel restrictions, saying there is no scientific evidence to suggest they work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are engaging leaders of various countries, especially those who have instituted these travel bans to convince them that this is very unnecessary,\u201d Health Minister Joe Phaala said. \u201cWe are happy that we are supported by the World Health Organization in saying this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nicholas Crisp, the acting director general of the health department, said laboratories notified the government about the new variant on Nov. 24 and a public announcement was made the next day. It was highly speculative to try to pinpoint how and where the strain originated, he said.<\/p>\n
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