S. African Medical Association says Omicron causes ‘mild Symptoms`

In an interesting development, Angelique Coetzee, the chairwoman of the South African Medical Association, has said that the new variant of the B.1.1.529, also known as the ‘Omicron variant’, results in “mild disease without prominent symptoms”, as per Sputnik.

"It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well. So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home", Coetzee told the news agency.

The official also added that the hospitals are not yet overburdened with the patients carrying this variant. Coetzee said that the variant won’t affect people who are fully vaccinated but the situation “might be different” for the unvaccinated.

The chairwoman also criticised the countries that have put a travel ban after learning about the new variant. Earlier on Saturday, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa held a formal discussion with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeking the removal of South Africa from the travel ban list. “I have put South Africa's case to Johnson which he understood very well,” he said at a press conference.

Agencies