Between the beginning of May and the first week of August, there have been more than 33 000 excess deaths in SA. This is more than three times the number of confirmed Covid-19 deaths. Kathryn Cleary asked the experts about what so many people are dying of
Between the beginning of May and the first week of August, there have been more than 33 000 excess deaths in South Africa. This is more than three times the number of confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus deaths.Data released on Wednesday by the SA Medical Research Council’s Burden of Disease Research Unit suggests that parts of the country may have reached a peak in Covid-19 infections by the end of July, which could potentially signal a downturn in the country’s epidemic.
Using information from the National Population Register which is provided to Bradshaw and her colleagues on a weekly basis, the research council’s weekly excess death reports are compiled to shed light on mortality during the Covid-19 pandemic. This could be because of the negative effects on access to healthcare services such as clinics or acute care services or changes in health seeking behaviours of people requiring health care.
“[We] are exploring whether it is possible to work with the department of health to evaluate mortality trends of the patients who are being treated for selected chronic conditions,” she says.When asked about the status of those defaulting on treatment during lockdown and the implications for excess deaths, director for TB, HIV and drug-resistant TB in the health department, Dr Norbert Ndjeka, could not provide Spotlight with any answers.
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