Correcting misinformation

Yes, South Africa has a young population. No, that’s not why it has avoided problems from Omicron.

Now that South Africa has shown the world that Omicron is a cold, the usual deep thinkers on Twitter want you to know that South Africa doesn’t count!

Why?

Because its population skews young, so it has Magic Covid Epidemiology Protection (TM), since we all know the ro is only dangerous to the oldsters!

From a Canadian blue-check:

Now, first off, I know what you’re thinking: Where has THIS gimlet-eyed analysis of the real risks of SARS-Cov-2 been the last two years?

But put that aside. Dr. Vicky Forester is correct. Africa does have a very young population, and it has largely avoided problems from Covid (despite having few advanced hospitals and a very low Covid vaccination rate. Weird, I know!)

Note I wrote “Africa.”

SOUTH Africa is an exception. Earlier variants of Covid did not spare it. It has the second-highest death rate from Covid of any country in Africa. (It also has very advanced healthcare by African standards. Just a coincidence, no doubt.)

In fact, since Covid began, South Africa has almost twice as many deaths per capita as - checks notes - Canada.

Oh.

It’s not the demographics that make Omicron seem mild. It’s the Omicron, stupid.