Reports from South Africa that omicron is disproportionately effecting under 5s

[Notsomerryandbright]

I can’t see another thread title discussing this but I’ve just read that Health Officials in South Africa have reported they’ve had a disproportionate number of under 5s admitted into hospital with covid over the last 2 weeks, 29% classified as having severe infection.

I’m not trying to cause panic etc but this really worries me. Just wanted to start a thread in hope someone more knowledgeable will come along and make it seem less scary than the figures suggest.

www.news.com.au/world/africa/south-african-government-medical-adviser-reveals-how-omicron-is-hitting-under5s/news-story/995e5cb71b3e8d7d4ae159f92549b8d0

Yes that's what I was hoping too. It wouldn't be unusual to keep a baby in overnight just to be cautious.

Hopefully there'll be some more data soon about lengths of stay etc and admissions primarily due to covid with in that age range as opposed to with incidental covid.

Here is an article in today's SA press. Takeaway is no great cause for alarm.

Yes surprise surprise, they are being admitted for other reasons and happen to test positive whilst they are there due to increase testing.

I really wish we could separate out ‘admissions because of Covid’ and ‘admissions for other reasons but happened to test positive’. It’s a completely different situation.

Delatron it seems to be causing much less excitement than when the news was potentially bad though - weird, you'd think people would be pleased.

Yes @MaxNormal unfortunately that also doesn’t surprise me.

Must be something else to scaremonger about. With zero evidence.

RIP. Praying.