Medical Research Council records 11,000 ‘excess deaths’ between May and June
The number of unnatural deaths was far lower than what was predicted – 28% lower than the predicted number for the week ending in 3 July.
EFF Ward 89 Chairperson Keketso Hollo sits in one of the beds in a fever tent for patients under investigation for COVID – 19 at Tembisa Tertiary Hospital on the East Rand, Johannesburg, 14 July 2020, during the visit to the hospital by EFF Gauteng legislature and parliament members. Tembisa has so far reported 40 deaths of COVID – 19 to date. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has recorded almost 11 000 “excess deaths” from natural causes in their Weekly Death Report on Tuesday.
“Excess deaths” means that nationally, from 6 May to 7 July, 10 994 more deaths from natural causes were recorded than anticipated, the report said.
It also means that reported deaths have shown a pattern that are completely different to those indicated by historical trends.
“In the period, 6 May-7 July 2020, there has been an excess of 10 994 deaths from natural causes of persons 1+ year old when using a revised base accounting for lower mortality during lockdown.
“For people 1-59 years, the excess is 3 655 and 7 ,305 for people 60+ years,” the report said.
While the cause of this is probably due largely to Covid-19 and the lockdown, it is too early to tell what the main cause of death is.
“It is important to point out that although the bulk of these estimates of the ‘excess deaths’ are due to Covid-19 and related causes, a proportion could be due other natural causes associated with a relaxing of lockdown”.
In general, SAMRC reported that deaths from all causes of people one-year-old and up increased to 13 684 – 26.5% higher than predictions made based on historical patterns.
However, the number of unnatural deaths was far lower than what was predicted – 28% lower than the predicted number for the week ending in 3 July.
Provincial breakdown
According to the report, increases in natural deaths have slowed down in the City of Cape Town. In the period leading up to 3 July 2020, the city recorded 389 excess deaths compared to 424 before that, the study said.
However, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have shown excess deaths.
“Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are experiencing an excess number of natural deaths. There is a particularly sharp increase in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
“Compared with the predicted number of natural deaths from historical data in the week ending 3 July 2020, the Eastern Cape had 90% more, Gauteng had 71% more, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal had 17% more,” the report said.
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