The 5th wave deaths are starting to show

The latest data on deaths from natural causes released by the SA Medical Research Council are for the week starting on 5 May 2022. The graph below plots these deaths against a base-line calculated as the average weekly deaths reported prior to the pandemic in 2020.

The plot of excess deaths shows a clear uptick in Gauteng that has already reached the maximum level recorded in the 4th COVID-19 wave. The excess deaths for Gauteng are still a way off the maximum recorded in the 3rd wave (but they should be monitored closely)



An analysis of COVID-19 hospital admissions as reported by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases also shows a spike in the admissions for Gauteng. It is still early days but the signs are concerning.



19 May 2022

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