After the Epidemic Phase Ends, Like the Flu? South African Hospital Says "Pandemic Phase Likely Ending Due to Omicron Variant"

Temporary COVID-19 ward at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Researchers in South Africa have revealed that the pandemic phase is coming to an end, based on their investigation into the infection wave trends caused by the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Bloomberg reported on the 7th (local time) the opinions of researchers analyzing data at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a national hospital in Pretoria, South Africa's capital. The researchers explained that although the Omicron variant spread at an unprecedented speed, it showed much milder symptoms compared to previous variants.

The researchers stated, "If this pattern repeats globally, we could see a complete decoupling of confirmed cases and deaths." Earlier, a World Health Organization (WHO) official also pointed out on the 4th that while some regions recorded the highest number of confirmed cases ever related to the Omicron variant, the number of deaths was not as high as during previous waves.

This suggests that the Omicron variant could be a precursor to ending the severe phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers also explained that this pattern might represent the end of a rapid transmission phase and the beginning of an endemic phase, similar to the flu, in certain regions.

According to a statement on the South African Medical Research Council website, the death rate among patients hospitalized during the current infection wave was 4.5%. This contrasts with the 21% death rate during previous infection waves. Additionally, the number of patients admitted to intensive care units decreased, and hospital stays were shorter.

The study found that although patient admission rates rose rapidly, they began to decline within 33 days from the first admission analyzed. The researchers added, "This phenomenon has not been observed before at the Steve Biko hospital complex or anywhere else in South Africa," and noted that it may reflect a high rate of asymptomatic infections in the community related to the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, this study was conducted through analysis of records from 466 current patients in the hospital and 3,976 previous infection cases.

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