The study authors, however, raised concerns that it was preliminary results from the first three weeks of the Omikron wave in South Africa, which could change with its expansion. The study concluded that that Risk of re-infection during the fourth wave in South Africa was higher than with previous waves. At the same time, the risk of hospitalization for adults is 29 percent lower than in the first wave at the beginning of last year. With children, however, the risk of hospitalization seems to be 20 percent higher than in the first wave, but the absolute frequency is very low.
Individual reports from hospitals in South Africa suggested that most Covid-19 diagnoses in children hospitalized were found by chance. Many children who have been hospitalized for other illnesses test positive on routine screening tests. The analysis by Discovery Health also shows that the risk of children testing positive was significantly lower than that of adults. “Children were 51 percent less likely to test positive for Covid-19 during the Omikron period than adults, and the overall risk of children being hospitalized for Covid-19 complications remains low,” said Discovery Health expert Shirley Collie.