Acute COVID cases have increased in Seychelles but not everyone is testing due to mild symptoms

Health officials in Seychelles have discovered an increase in active COVID cases, but no additional restrictions were revealed during a news conference on Wednesday. According to the most recent data published by the Public Health Commissioner, Dr Jude Gedeon, Seychelles has 821 ongoing COVID-19 cases and 164 COVID-related deaths.

"Even though these are confirmed positive instances, we know that not everyone with minor symptoms seeks testing. As a result, the number of active cases may have increased. This was indicated by Gedeon. He said that the Omicron BA.2 variant is to account for the ongoing increase in active cases, alleging that it was found in 98 percent of patients tested in March.

According to Dr. Danny Louange, CEO of the Health Care Agency, there are 12 patients in the Perseverance Family Hospital isolation center, one of whom is in intensive care and in serious condition. Despite a rise in daily admissions, all health services have resumed normal operations, and foreign specialist visits have resumed.

Gedeon recommended the general public follow COVID guidelines and standard operating procedures as positive incidences in Seychelles increased. "At this time, no constraints will be enforced," he continued, "but individuals must continue to do everything in their power to protect themselves and others to prevent further increase in new scenarios."

"We the people must continue to observe basic preventive measures and respect all processes in place in businesses, schools, places of worship, and recreational facilities," Gedeon continued. He also emphasized the need for vaccination, advocating the third dose to prevent catastrophic infections.

In Seychelles, 81% of the population received two doses of immunization. Currently, 80,314 Seychellois residents have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, accounting for 81% of the total population, whereas only 36,506 (37%) have received a third dosage or booster shot.

Meanwhile, a study by local health officials has revealed that the number of deaths caused by the Omicron variant rise is half that of the Delta variant spike. Both were calculated over three months and reveal that 68 people died during the Delta variant spike from May to July 2021, compared to 36 deaths during the most recent Omicron surge from December 2021 to February 2022.