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Omicron raises reinfection fears as more cases emerge

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 appears to be at least 2.4 times more likely to reinfect people than the original strain, according to early data from South Africa, where the variant is surging.

Scientists at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) say the latest epidemiological evidence suggests Omicron is causing reinfections at an increased rate.

Anne von Gottberg, a microbiologist at the NICD, said there seemed to be early signs that previous infection did not provide the same levels of immunity against Omicron as it had against Delta.

Von Gottberg said doctors were seeing ‘‘an increase for Omicron reinfections’’.

‘‘We believe the number of cases will increase exponentially in all provinces. We believe vaccines will still, however, protect against severe disease.’’

The Omicron variant has now become the dominant mode of infection in South Africa. About 11,535 new infections were registered yesterday, up from 8561 the day before – an increase of 368 per cent. In mid-November, South Africa reported about 300 a day.

The scientists at the NICD looked at almost 2.8 million confirmed cases in South Africa since March 2020, and found that 35,670 were reinfections. They found that the risk of reinfection due to Omicron is 2.4 times higher than in the first wave.

Omicron has raised concerns because it carries an unprecedented number of mutations, including about 30 on its important spike protein, which may lower immunity from vaccines and previous infections. Other mutations have been linked to greater transmissibility in previous variants. It has been detected in at least 24 countries, the World Health Organisation said.

Europe and the US

With the Delta variant of Covid-19 pushing up case numbers in Europe, and growing fears over the Omicron variant, governments are considering new measures.

In Greece, residents over 60 face fines of €100 (NZ$166) a month if they fail to get vaccinated. About 17 per cent of Greeks over 60 are unvaccinated, and nine in 10 Greeks now dying of Covid-19 are over 60.

Employing a carrot instead of a stick, Slovakia’s government is proposing to give people 60 and older a €500 (NZ$832) bonus if they get vaccinated.

Germany yesterday imposed strict new limitations on the unvaccinated, excluding them from non-essential stores, restaurants and other major venues. They can go to work only with a negative test.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said the measures were necessary because hospitals risked becoming overloaded.

At least 50 people in Norway’s capital have been infected with the Omicron variant. The cases are connected to a Norwegian firm’s Christmas party, officials say.

The Norwegian government said new national and regional restrictions would take effect. Anyone entering Norway must take a Covid-19 test within 24 hours.

Just a day after the first known United States case was found, in California, tests yesterday showed the Omicron variant had infected at least five people in New York City, plus a man from Minnesota.

US President Joe Biden announced an array of measures to protect Americans from the virus, including campaigns to increase vaccinations and boosters, more stringent testing requirements for international travellers, and plans to make rapid at-home coronavirus testing free for more people.

Public health experts said new measures to ward off the virus were overdue, lamenting the slow pace of vaccinations, the rise of misinformation, and other factors they said had left the nation vulnerable to a winter surge.

Australia

Covid-19 booster shots will not be brought forward in Australia after health experts determined a sooner third dose provided no additional protection against the new Omicron variant.

It comes as the country is set to pass 500,000 Covid top-up shots administered since the third doses were approved in Australia.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation determined people must still wait six months to receive a booster.

There have been 12 confirmed cases of Omicron in Australia, 11 in New South Wales and one in the Northern Territory.

Malaysia

Malaysia said yesterday it had detected its first case of the new Omicron strain in a foreign student who returned to the country last month after visiting her family in South Africa.

Malaysia has tightened restrictions following the discovery of the new variant.

It has banned visitors from eight African nations and requires travellers flying in from high-risk countries to wear a digital tracker device throughout their quarantine.

World

en-nz

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281840056952203

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