A massive shot of hopium to prepare for the festive season... Death rates in the Omicron wave ~2/3 down on previous COVID-19 waves throughout age groups. Results look solid. To what extent caused by Omicron less virulent and/or higher pop immunisation remains to be disentangled.
Finally, what we've been waiting for: age-controlled data on Omicron severity, courtesy SA health ministry. Across all ages, deaths among hospitalized pts are 2/3 lower in Omicron wave. If more mild cases are admitted, this # goes down, but doesn't seem likely that's the reason