Times Of Swaziland: LESS DEATHS THAN 2ND WAVE CURRENTLY

LESS DEATHS THAN 2ND WAVE CURRENTLY
================================================================================
BY PHIWASE PHUNGWAYO on 19/07/2021 08:42:00


MBABANE – It is less COVID-19-related deaths for now in the third wave,
compared to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, a second wave is
defined as a new wave lasting one or more days, commencing after the end of the
first wave. It further refers to an occurrence, after the previous peak, where
the caseload returns to at least 30 per cent of the previous peak’s case load.
The third wave is the effect of the virus on the social determinants of health,
and its effects on the next generation. It is characterised by more infections.
The less COVID-19 deaths could be attributed to the country being proactive in
the response to the pandemic. In the long-run, it could also be attributed to
vaccination rollout in the majority of the population. Worth noting is that when
400 confirmed cases of the virus were recorded in the second wave, there were 80
deaths recorded in the country.
Cases
On the other hand, the country has been recording a high number of cases since
last month, which have reached more than 480 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while
deaths are only 12. Local health experts have declared that the country is in
the early stages of the third wave and it has not reached its peak. Compared to
the second wave, the third one seems to have fewer deaths, although admissions
are increasing to as high as 153 recently. With the third wave, new strains of
the virus such as the Alpha and Delta variants, which are highly infectious,
have been recently detected in neighbouring South Africa. Local health officials
did not dismiss suggestions that the virus may have been spread to the kingdom
due to the proximity between the two countries. World Health Organisation (WHO)
Health Promotions Officer Dr Kevin Makadzange said although it was too early to
compare the two waves since the recent third wave had not reached its peak, the
less deaths recorded in the current wave could be attributed to awareness and
proactiveness.
Overwhelmed
He said when the first wave first hit, it was slow and the health system was not
overwhelmed, and the opposite was true on the second wave, when hospitals were
overwhelmed. “However, in the third wave, the country is a bit prepared as
there is the availability of oxygen tanks, support staff and the UK emergency
medical team, among many other responsive ways to the virus,” Makadzange said.
He added that hospital beds were increased and individuals were more cautious
and proactive, in that they tested early for COVID-19. He expressed hope that
the precautionary measures would work to the nation’s advantage during the
third wave. The health promotions officer further noted that in the third wave,
the virus was more transmissible but less fatal, according to recent research.
Dr Makadzange mentioned that for now, vaccines were not going to help because
only a small percentage of people were vaccinated. However, he did not rule out
that they would eventually help, especially when more locals had vaccinated.