Preliminary studies by South African scientists conclude that existing vaccines to prevent covid-19 can also reduce the worsening of the disease in case of infection with the omicron variant.

The Genome Surveillance Network of South Africa (NGS-SA) has said that PCR testing can tell if the infection is with the new mutation without having to segment the genome, although it is not yet known if the incubation period remains at five days.

Infectious disease expert Richard Lessels said that "the genetics of omicron are completely different from previous variants...and, vaccines are the tool that can prevent severe illness and hospitalization."

"With PCR we can track omicron tracing in real time. It's not necessary to have the complete gene sequence, which usually takes two weeks in the lab," he explained.

However, these advances are not the focus. Scientists are concerned about the levels of transmissibility and the effect of immunity that the vaccines provide, in what is already considered the fourth wave of covid-19.

"We are concerned not so much about the number of mutations, but where they are concentrated, because many of them do so at the peak of the protein, and specifically in key parts that are important for gaining access to our cells. We don't know if the antibodies are able to deal with them," he added.

The expert stressed the need for caution since positive cases are steadily increasing, "and, although with mild symptoms, it is too early to tell the level of dangerousness of omicron, because it was detected very recently."

The Omicron variant is already present in all provinces of South Africa. And the doubt among experts is whether it will replace Delta "which was spreading at very low levels."

South Africa's National Institute of Infectious Diseases confirmed in November that of 249 sequences located, 183 were from Omicron. Immunity after covid-19, the duration of which is unknown, does not offer protection against the new variant.

Gauteng province (the most populous province in the country and includes the cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg) continues to have the most daily positive cases, followed by KuaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

Eight of Gauteng's 15 million people have not been vaccinated and the transmissibility rate has increased from one to 2.3.

"It's clear that young people who are not vaccinated are a big concern. We continue to send the message that getting vaccinated is important because vaccinated people are experiencing milder symptoms," said David Makhura, Prime Minister of Gauteng.