"So there are indications that we are near the peak, if not at the peak. And we should be relieved that the number this week did not double from last week. Otherwise, we will be at 24,000 or 22,000 this week", he added. He said that it is important to ensure hospital capacity is not overly stressed. This could be achieved by ensuring high vaccination and booster coverage to protect as many people as possible from severe illness if infected.
He noted that in South Africa, the second Omicron wave driven by subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 was about one-third the peak of the earlier Omicron wave. Because of this, he said the government will look at using vaccines directed at the subvariants which are being developed "probably by the end of the year", if they are approved.
He added that about 50 per cent of all infections are caused by the two subvariants, with BA.5 the more dominant of the two. Mr Ong continued that the percentage has been roughly doubling every week, and is expected to increase to 70 to 80 per cent next week. /TISG