More than half of South Africans have been infected with Covid, estimates the CEO of Discovery.

Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery. Photo: Gallo

• Based on the country’s high number of excess deaths, Discovery estimates that more than half of South Africans have already been infected with Covid-19.
• Coupled with a rapid vaccine launch, this could help tame the dreaded third wave of the pandemic.
• Discovery’s CEO says the first and second phases of the vaccine launch could be completed by mid-year.
• For more articles, go towww.BusinessInsider.co.za.

South Africa’s soaring “excess” of deaths indicates that more than 50% of South Africa’s population has already been infected by Covid-19, says Discovery Group CEO and founder Adrian Gore.

In an interview with The Money Show with Bruce Whitfield on Tuesday, Gore said there is “absolutely no ambiguity” that the excess deaths are related to Covid-19.

The latest data released by the South African Medical Research Council shows that South Africa’s excess deaths during the pandemic have reached 137,731,

Excess deaths measures the total number of deaths from natural causes compared to the expected death rate in a “normal” year. The SAMRC uses official death statistics, as well as estimates of deaths that may not be recorded, to determine the total number of deaths in South Africa.

Based on the excess mortality rate, Discovery estimates that the country’s actual infection rate must be above half the population.

“In our opinion, the number of infected people probably exceeds 50% of the country. This pandemic has had a traumatic effect on people, on the economy. You have to fight with everything you can, ”Gore said.

Last week, the National Blood Service published a study, based on test samples, which estimates that 63% of people in the Eastern Cape have been infected since the epidemic began, 32% in the Northern Cape, 46% in Free State and 52%. in KwaZulu-Natal.

Gore said the high infection rate could provide some protection against the dreaded third wave of the pandemic, which could hit South Africa in the coming colder months.

“We expect a third wave to take more or less because we think the infection rate has been high.

If the first and second phase of the vaccine launch, targeting healthcare workers, followed by high-risk South Africans and essential workers, could be completed by mid-year, this could prevent a third deadly wave, he added.

The first Johnson & Johnson vaccines arrived in the country overnight.

“If we do that, we can avoid a third deadly wave.”

While the government’s handling of vaccine procurement has been criticized, Gore supported its centralized approach to vaccine distribution, which prohibits private companies from purchasing vaccines.

“Not following this process would mean that low-risk people are vaccinated earlier than clinically vulnerable people, leading to unnecessary illness and death. This cannot and should not happen, ”Gore said in a LinkedIn post, published Wednesday.

Given the global shortage of vaccines, young, healthy people who can afford vaccines should not be allowed to receive them earlier than others who are at risk of death, he told Whitfield.

Gore says he’s “pretty sure” medical schemes will pay for their members’ vaccinations, given that most are in a position to pay after a steep drop in claims last year as the pandemic canceled elective surgeries and other surgeries. routine medical tests.

READ | Medical plans spent so little in 2020 that their extra reserves can cover South Africa’s entire vaccine bill

“The truth is that there has been a reduction in the demand for health care during the pandemic,” says Gore.

He said in his LinkedIn post that Discovery has not agreed to subsidize vaccines for non-members. “This is simply not true”.

While the government has yet to set a price for the vaccines, Gore believes this shouldn’t be a problem, given the benefits of implementing the vaccines as quickly as possible for members.

Nearly 5,000 members of the Discovery medical plan have died and 12 members of the company’s staff.

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