Saturday 05 / October / 2024
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has logged over 22,000 new Covid infections and 17 deaths since the beginning of the new year.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Ibrahim Al Maimani, a data analyst and social activist, said: “The total number of new infections in January until Tuesday reached 22,718 at a daily average of 874. On the other hand, 7,288 recoveries were recorded, at an average of 280 each day, which had led to an increase in the existing cases to 16,488. This had dipped the recovery rate to 93.7 percent.”
Al Maimani confirmed that a significant increase was observed in the number of inpatients in hospitals. At the beginning of January there were just 14 cases which had reached 223 on Tuesday. As for the intensive care cases, their number was 4 cases at the beginning of January, which reached 26 cases on Tuesday.
Further, he pointed out there were 17 deaths in January until yesterday, whereas in December, it was just 3. In November, it was two.”
Al Maimani said: “It was noticed that the number of hospital admissions also increased. It was 75 yesterday, while at the beginning of the current month, it was just two.”
Dr. Amal bint Saif Al Maani, Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, in a statement to the Sultanate of Oman TV, confirmed that all laboratory and epidemiological evidence confirmed that a majority of cases, (over 99 percent), were infections caused by Omicron.
She added that an analysis confirmed that there would be an increase in the coming days as the reproduction number had exceeded 2.2, which was on the higher side.
It would begin to double within six days, according to the epidemiological analysis of the numbers during the past few weeks.
She pointed out that there would be a uniformity in the spread of the epidemic in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, unlike what happened during the previous waves.
In some governorates, the positivity rate had reached 25 percent, meaning that out of every 100 people who had symptoms during the period, 25 were infected with the Corona virus.
She indicated that the decisions of the Supreme Committee, charged with devising a mechanism to deal with the developments, were aimed to formulate a policy regarding conduct of essential business, occupational safety and healthcare to all citizens.
Dr. Amal clarified that the infection caused by Omicron was generally less severe compared to the previous mutant.
It is presumed that 25 percent of the severity is related to the nature of the mutant itself, and the remaining percentage is linked to other factors such as immunity in the community, natural or from previous infections or acquired immunity from vaccines.
She said the studies confirmed that two or three doses of the vaccine had reduced the spread by 66 percent. It also reduced the chance of hospitalisation with severe symptoms by more than 80 percent, intensive care or oxygen requirement by 90 percent, especially for those who had chronic diseases or were over 60 years.
Dr. Amal bint Saif Al Maani appealed to the people to receive the third dose to ensure their safety and also to contribute to check the spread of the infection.
