Here are my latest graphs showing the weekly #COVID19 data and trends in South Africa

I've received a number of queries since I last posted, so I'll attempt to share my personal opinions and thoughts in this thread

#coronavirus #Corona #CoronavirusSA #covid19SA

Breakdown per province.
Here are two graphs showing:
1. Incidence rate per province: 7-day rolling avg of daily new #COVID19 cases per 100,000 people
2. Test positivity rates per week per province in

Of concern: Eastern Cape

#Covid19SA #CoronaVirusSA #coronavirus

• Are we seeing the start of a 2nd wave of #COVID19 in ?

No, rate of transmission of #covid19SA has remained steady for almost 2 months. Test positivity rate still trending Number of *confirmed* cases has increased as #coronavirus testing has increased since #level1. BUT..

.. But risk still remains and #COVID19 is still here! Number of confirmed cases has not continued to decrease but levelled off. Test positivity rate, while decreasing slowly, still relatively high.

NB to take the necessary precautions and focus on NPIs..

#coronavirus #covid19SA

.. NON-PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS (NPIs) are still a vital tool in mitigating risk and slowing the spread of #COVID19 :

• Wear a mask
• Watch your physical distance
• Wash hands, maintain good hygienic practices

In addition, we need to focus on avoiding cluster outbreaks..

CLUSTER-BUSTING:
We've seen #COVID19 spread in clusters, eg in : church in FS, nightclub in CPT. Can we, instead of forward-tracing to identify infected persons, make use of rapid cheaper testing to backward-trace and identify transmission events 1st? Vietnam, Japan, S. Korea

.. we need to recognise importance of limiting conditions for super-spreading #COVID19 events and clusters

VENTILATION is NB!
• Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces
• Avoid closed spaces and close contact
• Outdoors >> Indoors. Sunlight and UV + ventilation

#coronavirus

Are we doing enough to improve VENTILATION, especially now in summer with warmer temps?

Eg.:
• Are restaurants, bars, etc. prioritising outdoor seating?
• Are gyms making use of outdoor classes and activities where possible?
• Are schools considering giving classes outside?

Risk of further #COVID19 outbreaks remains but 2nd wave in is not inevitable. Whilst case numbers are manageable, and during warmer summer months, focus must be on NPIs, ventilation and cluster-busting: identifying + minimising super-spreading events
#coronavirus #covid19SA