With the number of cases announced in recent days showing some stabilisation, allowing optimism for an exit from this wave of the pandemic as well, attention remains focused on hospitals as the number of hospitalized covid patients is still at high levels.
According to the Ministry's announcement yesterday, 257 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, of which 89 are in serious condition. A proportion of 69.65% of those hospitalized have no history of vaccination.
Although the daily number of cases remains high, the epidemic curve appears to have been on a downward trend since January 4, when it peaked with 5,457 confirmed cases of covid. The positivity rate yesterday was 2.1%.
However, the prevalence of the Omicron mutation in the community is also demonstrated by the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health yesterday.
According to the data, out of 99 samples from December 31 to January 8, 92 samples detected were positive for the Omicron variant, 6 for the Delta variant and one that could not be identified.
Cabinet meets
Today, a recommendation by the Minister of Health following a recommendation by members of the Scientific Advisory Committee, to reduce the period of restriction of persons declared to have close contacts and no history of embolism, from 14 to 10 days.
Recall that currently, individuals who have no history of vaccination and are declared close contacts are asked to remain in self-limitation for 14 days and are only allowed to come out early with a negative PCR at 7 days. This, we are informed, is not going to change even though the overall self-limitation time is being reduced.
Further, clarification is expected on the Test to Stay measure, which it has been decided will be optional and is expected to be implemented from next Monday 24 January.
The matter will be discussed at the inter-ministerial committee, before which the protocols governing schools will be brought before for further clarification.
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