PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS EXCESS RESPIRATORY ENCOUNTERS

The report is based on data collected from 5 March to 29 November 2020 (week 48 of 2020).

Key highlights:

In recent weeks respiratory hospitalisations in all ages have increased in Western Cape and Eastern Cape with some reductions in the last reporting week, likely related to delays in reporting.
Outpatient general practitioner respiratory consultations spiked in early March, consistent with “worried well” health-seeking behaviour, then declined sharply across South African provinces and age groups, reflecting the impact of the lockdown.
Outpatient emergency department consultations at private hospitals experienced a “worried well” spike in early March, though to a lesser degree than observed for general practitioner providers. Over the past few weeks there has been an increase in the Eastern Cape.