Covid is Still a Big Threat

Even as the Omicron variant sweeps around the world, it can be pointed out that in most cases, the number of Covid patients in hospitals remains significantly lower than during previous pandemic surges. 

That's not the case in North America, however, where the number of patients with the coronavirus currently in hospital has reached record numbers. 

According to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services, 145,982 people were in hospital with the virus on January 11, surpassing a previous record set in January 2021. 

Similarly, hospitals in large parts of neighboring Canada have also seen surges, with Quebec reporting a pandemic high last weekend. 

Looking at the above chart, 411 US Covid-19 patients per million people were in hospital as of January 09 – surpassing a previous peak of 400 per million set on January 14, 2021. In Canada, 206 people were in hospital per million as of January 11, compared to previous peaks of 118 in April and 128 in January 2021. 

South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected in November, tells a vastly different story. There, researchers found that those infected with Omicron are less likely to be sent to hospital and more likely to recover quickly. 

While up-to-date data regarding the rate of Covid patients in hospital per capita is not available, many South African hospitals reported that the number was significantly less than during previous surges. The Steve Biko Academic Hospital in the City of Tshwane, for example, reported to the International Journal of Infectious Diseases that the number of infected patients was about half of that recorded before mid-November. 

Researchers believe that South Africa's previous Covid-19 waves and relatively low vaccination rate meant that many residents had already likely been exposed and had built up some level of immunity. 

By now, the world already knows that Merck’s Molnupiravir has faced setbacks after disappointing trial data. 

But Pfizer stand tall. Their antiviral Paxlovid treatment pills for Covid-19 is said to be nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths, and data suggested it retains its effectiveness against Omicron, the pharmaceutical company said. 

In fact, South Korea began treating Covid patients with Paxlovid yesterday – the first Asian country to do so. 

I sure hope Pfizer didn’t cheat again!