How Symptoms Changed

Between COVID Variants

Epicentre News • 09 December 2021

Please note that this is simply data that was self reported by patients, this is in no way exhaustive nor is it peer reviewed. It is therefore up to the reader to make their own interpretations of the symptoms reported. Currently, this data is being analysed by a researcher, whose findings will be reported in an upcoming newsletter.

Look at the following facts about the graphs to aid in interpretation:

Dates were chosen according to the reported COVID-19 new variant waves in South Africa and were advised by our in-house epidemic expert.

The first graph

• Positive patients data was taken from 862 out of a total of 5768 people who tested (positive rate of 14.94%)
• Numbers were rounded up that = 0.5 or above, or rounded down if they were below 0.5
• These tests were done between 1st June 2020 to the 31st October 2020
• Patients may have experienced more than 1 symptom, thus when reading the graphs interpret it as 51% of patients experienced coughing for example
• 44.1% of positive patients experienced symptoms and 55.9% reported as asymptomatic (positive but experiencing no symptoms)
• Those that were testing positive for a current infection during this time period were exclusively using PCR testing
• Tests were conducted in Hillcrest (KZN) (2484, 50.3%), Cape Town (WC) (1557 people – 31.5%), Johannesburg (GP) (804 people – 16.3%), Port Elizabeth (EC) (93 people – 1.9%)

The second graph

• Positive patients data was taken from 2538 out of a total of 17737 people who tested (positive rate of 14.3%)
• Numbers were rounded up that equalled to 0.5 or above, or rounded down if they were below 0.5
• These tests were done between the 1st of November 2020 to 31 April 2021
• Patients may have experienced more than 1 symptom, thus when reading the graphs interpret it as 27% of patients experienced fever for example
• Those that were testing positive for a current infection during this time period were exclusively using PCR testing
• 35% of positive patients experienced symptoms and 65% reported as asymptomatic
• Tests were conducted in Hillcrest (KZN) (7108 people – 40.2%), Cape Town (WC) (8701, 49.2%), and Johannesburg (GP) (1886 people – 10.7%),

The third graph

• Positive patients data was taken from 2554 out of a total of 18559 people who tested (positive rate of 13.76%)
• These tests were done between the 1st of May 2021 to November 18th 2021
• Patients may have experienced more than 1 symptom, thus when reading the graphs interpret it as 29% of patients experienced fever for example
• Those that were testing positive for a current infection during this time period were using both PCR and antigen testing
• The results of those antigen testing out of the total provided were: positive (713 – 13.2%), Negative (4699 people – 86.7%)
• 37.6% of positive patients reported symptoms and 62.4% reported as asymptomatic
• Tests were conducted in Hillcrest (KZN) (6302 people – 34.0%), Cape Town (WC) (10368, 56.0%), Johannesburg (GP) (1849 people – 10.0%)
• When asked if they had received a COVID-19 vaccine: (3682 people – 29.6%) reported yes, whilst (8741 people – 70.4%) reported no.

The fourth graph

• Positive patients data was taken from 12 out of a total of 118 people who tested (positive rate of 10.17%)
• These tests were done between the 19th November 2021 to December 1st 2021
• Patients may have experienced more than 1 symptom, thus when reading the graphs interpret it as 33% of patients experienced fever for example
• Those that were testing positive for a current infection during this time period were using both PCR and antigen testing
• The results of those testing out of the total provided were: antigen positives (5.9%), PCR testing positive (12.5%)
• 21.4% of positive patients reported symptoms and 78.6% reported as asymptomatic
• Data taken was only from those tests conducted in Johannesburg (GP) as this is primarily where the new Omicron variant has been reported
• When asked if they had received a COVID-19 vaccine: (29.6%) reported yes, whilst (70.4%) reported no
• Please note that as this is very fresh data, 50% of patients data still need to be filed.

The Fifth graph

• Positive patients data was taken from 94 out of a total of 545 people who tested (positive rate of 17.25%)
• These tests were done between the 19th November 2021 to December 1st 2021
• Patients may have experienced more than 1 symptom, thus when reading the graphs interpret it as 44% of patients experienced fever for example
• Those that were testing positive for a current infection during this time period were using both PCR and antigen testing
• The results of those testing out of the total provided were: Antigen positives (3.6%), PCR positives (2.6%)
• 25.4% of positive patients reported symptoms and 74.6% reported as asymptomatic
• Data taken was only from those tests conducted in Cape Town (WC) and Hillcrest (KZN)
• When asked if they had received a COVID-19 vaccine: reported no (68.2%), and reported yes (31.8%).
• Please note that as this is very fresh data, 50% of patients data still need to be filed.