Why is SA no longer reporting daily Covid-19 stats over weekends?

The institute recently announced a change to its reporting structure.

The health department has warned the public about the increasing number of flu cases across the country since the beginning of May. Stock photo.
The health department has warned the public about the increasing number of flu cases across the country since the beginning of May. Stock photo. (123RF/Diego_cervo)

After reporting Covid-19 infection data for more than two years, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has decided to stop releasing surveillance information over weekends.

The institute recently announced a change to its reporting structure due to reduced severity of Covid-19 in SA and the repealing of regulations.

“The NICD has been diligently reporting Covid-19 surveillance data on a daily basis for more than two years. However, the reduced severity of disease, together with the repealing of Covid-19 regulations, has necessitated the need to review reporting structures,” it said.

Under the changes it will no longer report data over weekends.

“The reporting of data will resume on Mondays to Fridays, while aggregate reports for the weekend period will be released on Mondays, or the next weekday following a public holiday.”

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