Authors:
Abstract:
As of Dec 13, 2023, there have been approximately 772 million confirmed COVID-19 cases globally and it is estimated that 1% of cases, or 7 million, have resulted in COVID-19-related deaths. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on morbidity and mortality in Africa has been substantially lower than in other continents, probably due to several factors, including the younger age distribution throughout most African countries. However, the impact of COVID-19 has been severe in South Africa, with approximately 4·1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2% of which, or approximately 102 000, have resulted in COVID-19-related deaths as of Dec 13, 2023. At the same time, South Africa continues to have a high HIV burden with a 2022 national HIV prevalence of 18% among adults aged 15 to 49 years, and 7·6 million adults and children with HIV.
