Observe COVID-19 guidelines; Omicron variant confirmed in South Sudan, Dr. Rumunu broached.

The Ministry of Health in South Sudan has verified the existence of a novel Omicron strain in the nation.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Dr. John Pasquale Rumunu, Director General for Preventive Health Services and COVID-19 incident manager in the Ministry of Health, stated that they had received an initial report indicating the presence of the omicron linage in South Sudan and that it appears to be dominating the sample sent in December 2021.

“In prior updates, we said that the current transmission pattern behaved like an omicron, but we were waiting for proof, which we now have,” Dr. Rumunu added.

He added that they had submitted 81 samples to be analyzed in Uganda, and the preliminary assessment suggested that the majority of the samples showed omicron linage presence without a precise statistical figure of the people affected.

Based on the number we supplied, we will calculate the percentage and compare it to the number we had during the resurgence to obtain a fair estimate of how many omicron cases we have. “As you know, we are not submitting all of the positive results, but rather the ones that we have,” he said.

He recommended individuals continue taking efficient public health measures such as avoiding crowded locations, wearing well-fitting face masks, washing their hands with clean water and soap, and maintaining social distance in order to limit COVID-19 circulation overall.

He did, however, advise individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19, particularly health professionals and the elderly.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s incident manager for COVID-19, Sacha Bootsma, said that at the present, both the Delta and Omicron variants are the twin dangers causing increased hospitalization and mortality throughout the world.

“Omicron is accelerating. In addition to vaccination, she said that “public health social measures are also required to halt the rate of infection and safeguard the health workers and system in order to open up society and keep children in school.”

Sacha also said that the World Health Organization has changed its recommendations for health professionals, advocating the use of respirators, medical masks, or personal protection equipment.