While the number of excess deaths is still high, it has decreased from the peak of 10 241 in July. Since 3 May 2020, there has been a cumulative total of just over 244 800 excess deaths from natural causes. Nearly 160 000 of these occurred in 2021.
A report by the South African Medical Research Council, which tracks weekly deaths, shows that the total number of fatalities increased from more than 15 000 in the week ending 14 August to more than 16 000 in the week ending 21 August.
