Rise in positive Covid tests

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - The percentage positive tests for Covid-19 has been increasing gradually over the past three months, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

In its latest report - for the week leading up to 26 November (week 47) - the percentage positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 was 12,1%.

In July and August, the positive testing rate hovered around 4%. It increased gradually from October onwards (in week 40 - the week leading up to 8 October - it was 7,3% ).

Week 47 did not show a significant change from the previous week when the percentage testing positive was 12,5%.

A total of 2 888 cases were reported in week 47. There was a 15,4% decrease in the number of new cases detected in week 47 compared with the number of new cases detected in week 46.

The testing rate was 30 per 100 000 persons in week 47.

In all provinces, when compared with the previous week (week 46), the percentage testing positive also did not significantly change.

The percentage testing positive in week 47 was highest in Gauteng (13,6%), followed by the Free State (13,2%), Western Cape (12,7%), KwaZulu-Natal (11,9%), Limpopo (11,5%), Mpumalanga and North West (11,3%).

The percentage testing positive was <10,0% in all other provinces.

In week 47, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Province reported the highest weekly incidence risk (7 cases per 100 000 persons), followed by Western Cape Province (4,7 cases per 100 000 persons).

The other provinces reported weekly incidences below 3 cases per 100 000 persons.

The percentage testing positive in week 47 was highest in the ≥80 years age group (21,6%), followed by the 75 to 79 years (20,1%) and 50 to 54 years (17,6%) age groups.

The percentage of positive Covid tests in South Africa reported from 1 March 2020 to 26 November 2022.