A new Lancet study noted that generally, the average life expectancy of people across the world dropped by 1.6 years in the first two years of the pandemic.
Officially, as of the latest stats released last night, South Africa’s COVID-19 death toll stands at 88 674.
In total, since March last year, close to 250 000 deaths from natural causes have been reported over and above what was expected during the same period.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of COVID-19 deaths reported this week, which has now been addressed by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Two temporary COVID-19 field hospitals in Cape Town are set to close as admissions drop, and virus rates decline in the Western Cape.
Research by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and UCT’s Centre for Actuarial Research shows that we may still not be getting anywhere near the full picture.
Using the data available thus far, epidemiologist Professor Andrew Boulle has looked at Cape Town’s COVID-19 mortality rate, and how that compares to some of the world’s hardest-hit areas.