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By Chelsea Geach 
4h ago
CONTRARY to predictions of mass deaths due to Covid-19 on the continent, Africans appear to be twice as likely not to experience symptoms of the virus, according to a preliminary analysis by the African branch of the World Health Organization (WHO).
More than 80% of infected Africans were asymptomatic, a preliminary analysis suggests, compared with 40% -50% in other parts of the world. This finding was published at a press conference of the African branch of the WHO on Thursday.
“This is reinforced by the fact that we have not seen health systems overwhelmed by large numbers of cases, and we also do not see evidence of excess mortality due to Covid-19,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. .
While some of the uncertainty is due to low testing rates in African countries, that does not explain all the difference, and death rates have also been significantly lower in Africa than in Europe and North America.
“Also, there is no evidence of a miscalculation of death,” Moeti said.
One hundred and eighty-two new infections were reported yesterday in the Western Cape, according to an update from Prime Minister Alan Winde, with 612 people still hospitalized, of which 99 are in ICU or intensive care. This brings the total confirmed cases in the province to 109,545, although the vast majority of them are no longer active. Updated figures for deaths and active cases were not available yesterday due to delays in reporting.
While most of the children have returned to school and many matrices are busy writing their preliminary exams, the repercussions of the lack of instructional time still haunt teachers and students.
Disruption of the school year and emotional stress on students are likely to have far-reaching consequences.
Carl Scholtz, history director at Norman Henshilwood High School and a member of the Western Cape Teachers Forum, said anxiety had been worse than ever among high school students nearing the end of their career.
“There is anxiety about going to school and the possibility of contracting Covid-19; anxiety spreads not only to the virus, but to catching up on tests and exams and the possibility of failing, ”said Scholtz.
“We as teachers can only provide support to these students, but even then the parents or guardians of the students are experiencing this anxiety.
“Concerns that (students) may fail tests and pressure to perform on tests despite massive learning disruptions has knock-on effects on students’ mental health and behavior in class.
“They get distracted or withdrawn within themselves and don’t engage in lessons or invest in lessons,” Scholtz said. “The consequences of this year will have long-term effects. Anxiety, depression, and other mental problems will become more prominent. Gaps in learning will also increase: reading, writing, and skills taught in various subjects will need to be redeveloped and taught in the coming years.
This will affect all assessments and exams, including future NSC exams. “
He said he will bring more support and understanding to his students.
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