South Africa
#CoronavirusSA: Interpreting excess deaths─── 11:32 Sat, 25 Jul 2020
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize/Photo: Flickr
Wits vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi says the under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is systemic and not unique to South Africa.
South Africa has recorded 60 percent more excess deaths than expected in the last few weeks.
This is raising questions about whether or not the recorded number of COVID-19 deaths is accurate.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said there is nothing untoward about the surge in COVID-19 related deaths in the past few days.
He said it indicates a backlog in reporting deaths timeously.
Madhi says some people may die of COVID-19 outside of hospitals or before they get tested.
