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South Africa has just dipped below 100 000 active cases… while seeing a steady decline for the past 31 days now!!!

 

South Africa (19 August 2020) – As of the 19th of August 2020, South Africa has officially dipped below the 100 000 active COVID-19 cases mark!

There were only 94 412 active cases of COVID-19 in South Africa, tragically 12 264 deaths but also 485 568 citizens who had recovered from the disease.

COVID-19 is the greatest global shock in decades. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, and the world’s economy likely faces the worst recession since the 1930s. The resulting loss of employment and income will cause further damage to livelihoods, health, and sustainable development.

The numbers can often seem confusing. As of today, South Africa has conducted 3 340 347 tests and had 592 144 total positive results, but positive results change daily as people recover, so even though there have been almost 600 000 positive results, only 94 412 South Africans are currently positive. See confusing.

Here is a different way to report the numbers while still using the same numbers:

Recoveries: 485 468 (7 797 more than yesterday)
Active Cases: 94 412 (5 821 LESS than yesterday)
Deaths: 12 264 (282 more than yesterday)

We know that this pandemic is significant, and many will suffer, and we also know not everyone will survive, but the majority of South Africa (and the globe) will recover!

Currently, the Worldometers website states that over 95% of global cases (that are no longer active) have recovered, while South Africa’s closed recovery rate sits at around 98,4% (closed cases are the recoveries versus deaths after moving from active).

South Africa dips below 100 000 active cases, while moving closer to 500 000 recoveries!!!

Here in South Africa, a COVID-19 support group has been created on Facebook for people who have recovered, and people who are looking for hope. Everyday South Africans are sharing their inspirational recovery stories which really does bring a different perspective to this pandemic.

You can find the group by clicking here.

Societies need to protect themselves, and to recover, as quickly as possible. But we cannot go back to the way we did things before. Increasing numbers of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, SARS and Ebola, have made the jump from wildlife to humans – and all available evidence suggests that COVID-19 has followed the same route. Once human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 began, national and international surveillance and response systems were not strong or fast enough to completely halt transmission. And as infections spread, a lack of universal health coverage has left billions of people, including many in rich countries, without reliable and affordable access to medical treatment. Massive inequalities have meant that deaths and loss of livelihoods have been strongly driven by socioeconomic status, often compounded by gender and minority status.

Attempting to save money by neglecting environmental protection, emergency preparedness, health systems, and social safety nets, has proven to be a false economy – and the bill is now being paid many times over. The world cannot afford repeated disasters on the scale of COVID-19, whether they are triggered by the next pandemic, or from mounting environmental damage and climate change. Going back to “normal” is not good enough.

In adversity, the crisis has also brought out some of the best in our societies, from solidarity among neighbours, to the bravery of health and other key workers in facing down risks to their own health to serve their communities, to countries working together to provide emergency relief or to research treatments and vaccines. The “lockdown” measures that have been necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 have slowed economic activity, and disrupted lives – but have also given some glimpses of a possible brighter future. In some places, pollution levels have dropped to such an extent that people have breathed clean air, or have seen blue skies and clear waters, or have been able to walk and cycle safely with their children – for the first times in their lives. The use of digital technology has accelerated new ways of working and connecting with each other, from reducing time spent commuting, to more flexible ways of studying, to carrying out medical consultations remotely, to spending more time with our families. Opinion polls from around the world show that people want to protect the environment, and preserve the positives that have emerged from the crisis, as we recover.

Let’s hope that the lockdown in South Africa has achieved the same great results from around the world. And as always, thank you to all the incredible frontline heroes who are helping us get through this.


Sources: World Health Organisation | Worldometer | SA Government 
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About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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