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Photos: Data shows unexpected, excess deaths in South Africa in 3 months

A recent report by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) released on July 22 reflected 17,000 excess deaths from May 06 to July 14 as compared to data from the past two years. The SAMRC President Glenda Gray indicated that the excess deaths could be attributed to COVID-19 as well as other widespread diseases while many health resources are redirected toward the pandemic. As the pandemic has entered the community transmission stage; testing still remains limited by shortages of supplies in a continent of 1.3 billion people.

Updated on: Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM IST

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Family members and funeral workers in a protective gear carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim in Thokoza on July 23. South Africa witnessed 17,000 extra deaths from natural causes or 59% more than would normally be expected between early May and mid-July, scientists said, suggesting many more people are dying of COVID-19 than shown in official figures, Reuters reported. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

Family members and funeral workers in a protective gear carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim in Thokoza on July 23. South Africa witnessed 17,000 extra deaths from natural causes or 59% more than would normally be expected between early May and mid-July, scientists said, suggesting many more people are dying of COVID-19 than shown in official figures, Reuters reported. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

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Funeral home workers in protective suits carry the coffin of a woman who died from COVID-19 in Katlehong, on July 21. South Africa, last Saturday became one of the top five worst-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, as breathtaking new infection numbers around the world were a reminder that a return to normal life is still far from sight. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

Funeral home workers in protective suits carry the coffin of a woman who died from COVID-19 in Katlehong, on July 21. South Africa, last Saturday became one of the top five worst-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, as breathtaking new infection numbers around the world were a reminder that a return to normal life is still far from sight. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

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A health worker is seen between beds at a temporary field hospital set up by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) during the coronavirus outbreak in Khayelitsha Township on July 21. A new report by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) released July 22 shows more than 17,000 excess deaths between May 06 and July 14 as compared to data from the past two years. (Mike Hutchings / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

A health worker is seen between beds at a temporary field hospital set up by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) during the coronavirus outbreak in Khayelitsha Township on July 21. A new report by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) released July 22 shows more than 17,000 excess deaths between May 06 and July 14 as compared to data from the past two years. (Mike Hutchings / REUTERS)

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A view inside a temporary Covid-19 hospital set up in a sports complex in Khayelitsha Township on July 21. SAMRC President Glenda Gray told AP that excess deaths could be attributed to COVID-19 as well as other widespread diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis while many health resources are redirected toward the pandemic. So far over 6,000 Covid-19 deaths have been reported. (Mike Hutchings / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

A view inside a temporary Covid-19 hospital set up in a sports complex in Khayelitsha Township on July 21. SAMRC President Glenda Gray told AP that excess deaths could be attributed to COVID-19 as well as other widespread diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis while many health resources are redirected toward the pandemic. So far over 6,000 Covid-19 deaths have been reported. (Mike Hutchings / REUTERS)

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Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, during a broadcast of his national address, in Cape Town on July 23. “The coronavirus storm has indeed arrived,” President Cyril Ramaphosa told the nation in a public address as cases surpassed 400,000. He announced that schools would “take a break” for a month to protect students. (Dwayne Senior / Bloomberg)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, during a broadcast of his national address, in Cape Town on July 23. “The coronavirus storm has indeed arrived,” President Cyril Ramaphosa told the nation in a public address as cases surpassed 400,000. He announced that schools would “take a break” for a month to protect students. (Dwayne Senior / Bloomberg)

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A woman holds a placard during a protest by members of the restaurant industry against the coronavirus disease restrictions in Johannesburg on July 22. President Ramaphosa implemented a tough lockdown at the end of March but a surge in poverty and unemployment in a country that already had too much of both spurred the government to partially lift restrictions before the peak of infections. (Siphiwe Sibeko / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

A woman holds a placard during a protest by members of the restaurant industry against the coronavirus disease restrictions in Johannesburg on July 22. President Ramaphosa implemented a tough lockdown at the end of March but a surge in poverty and unemployment in a country that already had too much of both spurred the government to partially lift restrictions before the peak of infections. (Siphiwe Sibeko / REUTERS)

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A health worker behind a screen with rubber gloves takes a nasal swab from a patient to test for COVID-19 at the Masiphumelele Community Centre in Cape Town on July 23. Amid rising cases, testing remains limited by shortages of supplies, with just 7.2 million tests conducted on the continent of 1.3 billion people, AP reported. (Nardus Engelbrecht / AP)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

A health worker behind a screen with rubber gloves takes a nasal swab from a patient to test for COVID-19 at the Masiphumelele Community Centre in Cape Town on July 23. Amid rising cases, testing remains limited by shortages of supplies, with just 7.2 million tests conducted on the continent of 1.3 billion people, AP reported. (Nardus Engelbrecht / AP)

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A coffin carrying Duduzile Margaret Mbonane who died from COVID-19, during her funeral in Thokoza, East of Johannesburg on July 23. “Local transmission of the virus has begun across the continent, and once it is seeded in vulnerable communities it spreads like wildfire, which is what we’re seeing in South Africa now,” the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong told AP. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 3:19 PM

A coffin carrying Duduzile Margaret Mbonane who died from COVID-19, during her funeral in Thokoza, East of Johannesburg on July 23. “Local transmission of the virus has begun across the continent, and once it is seeded in vulnerable communities it spreads like wildfire, which is what we’re seeing in South Africa now,” the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong told AP. (Themba Hadebe / AP)

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