Covid-19: South Africa reports 734 305 recoveries

As of December 2, the cumulative total of Covid-19 cases is 796 472 with 4 173 new cases identified since the last report.

The reported indicated that 65 more Covid-19 related deaths were recorded.

These were four deaths in the Eastern Cape, 15 in Free State, four in Gauteng, 12 in Kwa-Zulu Natal and and 30 in Western Cape 30.
This brings the total to 21 709 deaths.

The total number of recoveries stands at 734 305 with Gauteng reporting the highest number with 229 041. This province also remains at the top of the total number of cases with 235 664 (29,6 per cent).

Gauteng is followed by Western Cape with 16,9 per cent of the the cases.

Testing data

Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health, yesterday shared a statement explaining that epidemiological centres undertake data audits at various intervals to ensure an accurate epidemiological understanding when a situation evolves as with Covid-19.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported on November 27 that the cumulative number of tests conducted was 5 350 076. This was 33 002 test less than what was reported the previous day. The change is related to testing numbers and does not affect the daily positive case numbers.

The NICD consulted with the Incidence Management Team yesterday and subsequently submitted a report outlining the factors that led to the reduction in cumulative tests.

The data source for testing data was changed to the Notifiable Medical Conditions Surveillance System (NMCSS) on November 27.

The reasons for the change were:

• To align the reporting of test data with the source of the case data.
• To prepare for the inclusion of antigen-based tests which will be reported into the NMCSS.
• To enable reporting of district level test data once the implementation of geocoding for test data was completed in the NMCSS.

As part of data quality control, the following process was implemented, which resulted in the reduction of testing numbers:

• Improvement in the process for identifying and removing duplications of the same test from the same patient.
• Removal of samples that were collected outside of SA but tested in SA to ensure that the testing numbers only reflect South Africa’s testing numbers.

The cumulative number of tests reported and the daily new tests that were recorded on the database since the last report on November 26 are as follows:

• November 26: total of 5 383 078 with 29 010 new tests.
• November 27: total of 5 350 076 with 28 253 new tests.
• November 28: total of 5 376 488 with 26 412 new tests.
• November 29: total of 5 398 951 with 22 463 new tests.
• November 30: total of 5 415 565 with 16 614 new tests.
• December 1: total of 5 435 824 with 20 259 new tests.
• December 2: total of 54 68 670 with 32 846 new tests.

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