South African Covid-19 News and Discussions

[Geoff.D]

As per the reference post by @garp :

The numbers of deaths due to all causes in the most recent three weeks are lower than predicted as a result of a sharp decline in the number of deaths from non-natural causes (e.g., road traffic fatalities and homicide). See graph at the end of report. Although female deaths are about 2/3rds that of males the proportionate decline for both is very similar. • Deaths from natural causes still show no unusual signs of increase by 14 April 2020, both for those under 60 years and those aged 60 and over.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1253028954123968515

 

[BackStabbath]

 

[Temujin]

As per the reference post by @garp :



View attachment 827199

Hmmm, so, I think its clear whats happening, hospitals are killing people... now that they're empty, people are staying alive

 

[Gordon_R]

The Eastern Cape is playing catch-up, but also highlighting the issue of contact tracing and social isolation in high density areas:

Covid-19: Mkhize concerned after increase in confirmed cases in Nelson Mandela Bay, now at 167

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says Nelson Mandela Bay should ramp up its testing and screening after a rapid rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the metro to 167, with six deaths.

www.news24.com

"The numbers can be traced to two events, which were funerals at KwaDesi and Zwide. This is a matter of concern because the numbers have actually increased. We've started to see a lot of problems arising from this and, in this case, one of the families has reported that both parents have passed on, and the children are orphans as a result of this," said Mkhize.

Mkhize said that, of the 167 Covid-19 cases, 1 000 contacts had been traced.

"Because they come from densely populated areas, it is going to be difficult for them to quarantine in their own homes. The MEC has reached out to Nelson Mandela University, [who] have offered 800 beds to absorb most of these contact individuals."

 

[Gordon_R]

Surprise, wide-scale incompetence of procurement of PPE in the middle of an epidemic:

Mass Covid-19 testing has been ‘crippled’ by how SA buys supplies, says National Treasury | Businessinsider

The Solidarity Fund will now step in with working capital – and will subsidise government organisations if the price of personal protective equipment (PPE) gets too high.

www.businessinsider.co.za

Handling procurement on a decentralised basis – as the South African government does – is a terrible idea during the Covid-19 pandemic, National Treasury says.

Usually, individual government institutions place their own orders for supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), which means even small municipalities are going to market looking to buy gloves and masks individually.

But the global crisis has crippled supply chains, complicated logistics, and caused countries to bid against one another for scarce protective supplies, Treasury says in an instruction to all public entities, so small orders are not getting priority in manufacturing and importation.

 

[Mila]

How long does that test take?

 

[ToxicBunny]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1253028954123968515

No surprise on this front...

 

[Fox1]

Week 4 of the lockdown and still not enough testing taking place. Maybe it's the contact tracings that delays the testing process. There's no definite yes and no to handling this pandemic.

 

[Currantly]

Spur has been trying to transition into doing more takeaways anyway. Any it's all about opportunity cost, the cost of not opening up shop, paying a reduced rental and losing out on potential sales vs the cost of running the kitchen for takeaways with 1 or 2 frontend staff and paying the rent in full.

Spur restaurants will not be opening when hard lockdown ends for fear of ‘catastrophic losses’

 

[Polymathic]

Spur restaurants will not be opening when hard lockdown ends for fear of ‘catastrophic losses’

And what is the point are you trying to make?

 

[Lupus]

The Eastern Cape is playing catch-up, but also highlighting the issue of contact tracing and social isolation in high density areas:

Covid-19: Mkhize concerned after increase in confirmed cases in Nelson Mandela Bay, now at 167

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says Nelson Mandela Bay should ramp up its testing and screening after a rapid rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the metro to 167, with six deaths.

www.news24.com

No really it came from funerals? We can't go for a jog or walk our dog, get takeaways, have a smoke or a beer, cause it'll cause spread, but they bloody allowed funerals.
Also why are the deaths so high in Natal and WC? Yes Gauteng has higher confirmed cases but actually lower active cases, at the rate it's going Gauteng will be done yet WC and KZN will keep rising, perhaps that's where the lockdown has been least effective?

 

[Polymathic]

No really it came from funerals? We can't go for a jog or walk our dog, get takeaways, have a smoke or a beer, cause it'll cause spread, but they bloody allowed funerals.
Also why are the deaths so high in Natal and WC? Yes Gauteng has higher confirmed cases but actually lower active cases, at the rate it's going Gauteng will be done yet WC and KZN will keep rising, perhaps that's where the lockdown has been least effective?

Maybe most the deaths in KZN have to do with the St Augustine's and Old Age Home clusters but it's info is hard to come by

 

[Lupus]

Maybe most the deaths in KZN have to do with the St Augustine's and Old Age Home clusters but it's info is hard to come by

I've got a feeling it might be related to the poor healthcare, especially if you read that article about maggots in food and such, seems KZN has the worst public hospitals.

 

[Jings]

No really it came from funerals? We can't go for a jog or walk our dog, get takeaways, have a smoke or a beer, cause it'll cause spread, but they bloody allowed funerals.
Also why are the deaths so high in Natal and WC? Yes Gauteng has higher confirmed cases but actually lower active cases, at the rate it's going Gauteng will be done yet WC and KZN will keep rising, perhaps that's where the lockdown has been least effective?

It's been the same with Italy and other areas hit hard. Apparently some strains of Covid-19 are more virulent than others. Did any of the travellers importing the virus (patient zeros) to the coast die? We had a 57 year old in Gauteng who needed critical care but he made it.

US, Italy strain more virulent than one in India: Top Indian microbiologists

 

[Gordon_R]

Interesting insights on hospital protocols and PPE training during the period ahead of the expected peak:

Frontline #5 Professor Graeme Meintjes: Groote Schuur: The big barn is getting ready for a Covid-19 surge

A public sector doctor at the frontline describes what it’s like getting a huge hospital ready for a potential pandemic storm surge.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

 

[MiW]

The Eastern Cape is playing catch-up, but also highlighting the issue of contact tracing and social isolation in high density areas:

Covid-19: Mkhize concerned after increase in confirmed cases in Nelson Mandela Bay, now at 167

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says Nelson Mandela Bay should ramp up its testing and screening after a rapid rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the metro to 167, with six deaths.

www.news24.com

How old/sick were both parents , and did they die in hospital. Just wondering how many orphans is SA going to accumulate. This time there wont be the gogos left to look after them , like with the AIDS.

 

[MiW]

I've got a feeling it might be related to the poor healthcare, especially if you read that article about maggots in food and such, seems KZN has the worst public hospitals.

I guess you've never been in a government hospital , maggots is normal .. extra protein. Had them long time ago in Jhb Gen , and once in private hospital, when I went to late to check my lunch. Now cockroaches crawling on my back at night , that turned me to insectophobe

 

[Lupus]

I guess you've never been in a government hospital , maggots is normal .. extra protein. Had them long time ago in Jhb Gen , and once in private hospital, when I went to late to check my lunch. Now cockroaches crawling on my back at night , that turned me to insectophobe

My wife was in Helen Joseph 12 years ago, it wasn't that bad. My gran was in Chris Hani 4 years ago and it wasn't great but no maggots or roaches. Though I do admit when we went to go pick up my brother in law from Charlotte Maxeke it wasn't great at all, in fact it was the worst of the public hospitals.

 

[MiW]

My wife was in Helen Joseph 12 years ago, it wasn't that bad. My gran was in Chris Hani 4 years ago and it wasn't great but no maggots or roaches. Though I do admit when we went to go pick up my brother in law from Charlotte Maxeke it wasn't great at all, in fact it was the worst of the public hospitals.

It was still Joburg Gen, I was in trauma , long enough ,3 weeks in ICU tied up for my bed ( to don't pull the tubes) on ventilator more than 2 weeks , which causes big problems , then you need operation to 'cut' your trachea.Months in a ward, saw at least 4 people killed by the nurses. They tried on me, but I must've been to strong for them.Got out 30kg.