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dc.contributor.author | Pillai, Jayandiran![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Motloba, P.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Motaung, K.S.C.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Ozougwu, L.U.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Ikalafeng, B.K.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Marinda, E.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Lukhele, M.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Basu, Debashis![]() |
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dc.date.accessioned | 2021-10-25T09:27:35Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-10-25T09:27:35Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2020-11 | |
dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND. On 26 March 2020, the South African (SA) government initiated a 21-day national level 5 lockdown which was subsequently eased off and downgraded to level 4 on 1 May and to level 3 on 1 June. The effect of lockdown measures on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity is currently uncertain. In this article, we analyse the effects of the lockdown measures on the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in one of the epicentres in SA. OBJECTIVES. To measure the effects of lockdown measures introduced in SA on SARS-CoV-2 attack rates (ARs, the percentage of individuals who tested positive in a specified time period) in Gauteng Province during a 4-month period (March - June 2020). METHODS. In this retrospective cohort study, we used a comprehensive database from an independent pathology laboratory in Gauteng. We analysed trends of positivity rates of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests done during the 4-month period. The ARs are reported over time (unweighted and age-weighted 14-day moving averages) by age groups, gender, and different regions/districts in Gauteng. RESULTS. A total of 162 528 tests were performed at a private laboratory between 5 March and 30 June 2020, of which 20 574 were positive (overall AR 12.7%). These positive tests constituted 44.8% of all positive cases in the province (20 574/45 944). Sixty-two percent of all tests were done in June during lockdown level 3. There was an exponential increase in the AR in June (18.3%) when lockdown was eased to level 3, in comparison with 4.2% (March), 2.2% (April) and 3.3% (May). The increase in June was seen in all the age groups, although it was more pronounced in the 21 - 60 years age groups than the younger (0 - 20 years) and older (>60 years) age groups. The AR was significantly higher in males (13.2%) compared with females (12.1%) (χ2 test, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS. The findings of this study testify to the rapid increase in ARs resulting from easing of the lockdown regulations, especially to level 3 in June. Of concern is the upward trend in the AR across all age groups, especially <20 years (15.9%), which was not reported in other parts of the world. Population age dynamics should therefore be considered when taking future decisions about lockdown regulations. | en_ZA |
dc.description.department | School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) | en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian | am2021 | en_ZA |
dc.description.uri | http://www.samj.org.za | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation | Pillai, J., Motloba, P., Motaung, K.S.C. et al. 2020, 'The effect of lockdown regulations on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Gauteng Province, South Africa', South African Medical Journal, vol. 110, no. 11, pp. 1119-1123. | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn | 0256-9574 (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2078-5135 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i11.15222 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/82225 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
dc.publisher | Health and Medical Publishing Group | en_ZA |
dc.rights | © 2020 Health & Medical Publishing Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 3.0). | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Lockdown | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Effects | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Gauteng Province, South Africa | en_ZA |
dc.title | The effect of lockdown regulations on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Gauteng Province, South Africa | en_ZA |
dc.type | Article | en_ZA |