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Alcohol deaths spiked among middle-aged adults, especially women, during pandemic

Alcohol deaths spiked among middle-aged adults, especially women, during pandemic

Abnormal drinking is progressively killing center-aged grownups — a craze that experienced been brewing for just about two many years just before it ramped up at an alarming pace when the coronavirus pandemic started.

Liquor-linked fatalities rose by 26{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from 2019 to 2020, a new report revealed Friday by the Facilities for Ailment Regulate and Avoidance finds.

The maximize was even sharper amid women ages 35 to 44, going up by 42{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from 2019 to 2020.

The remarkable a single-12 months rise comes soon after a extended interval of fairly steady raises in these types of fatalities. From 2000 by way of 2018, age-modified liquor-associated fatalities rose yearly, but by no means at a amount bigger than 7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

But when the pandemic hit, numerous folks enormously enhanced their drinking.

The new exploration “unmasks the actuality that we have a vulnerable population that was also dwelling by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Kristopher Kast, the scientific director of the Habit Check with Service at Vanderbilt College Healthcare Centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

“With that amplified level” of consuming, Kast said, “we noticed this increase in mortality.”

The new report, from the CDC’s Countrywide Centre for Health and fitness Figures, discovered that the level of liquor-related deaths rose from 10.4 for each 100,000 folks in 2019 to 13.1 for every 100,000 in 2020.

In general, alcoholic beverages-associated death prices are increased among the adult males than females in 2020, there had been 19.2 fatalities for each 100,000 males, in contrast with 7.5 per 100,000 gals.

Liver sickness was the major bring about of alcohol-associated deaths in the new report, adopted by psychological and behavioral health and fitness diseases, these types of as withdrawal.

Deaths from acute pancreatitis — an inflammatory pancreas affliction — ended up also noteworthy. The condition can occur with sudden improvements in ingesting, in particular in individuals with other, underlying well being issues, Kast explained.

Though the over-all charges of alcoholic beverages-connected pancreatitis fatalities have been rather low (from .1 for each 100,000 individuals in 2019 to .2 for each 100,000 in 2020), they do stand for a doubling in a single calendar year.

The researchers found that alcohol-related fatalities were most frequent between middle-aged grown ups. The optimum death charges were among the guys and ladies ages 55 by way of 64.

But there have been major gender discrepancies. Gals accounted for the most important 1-12 months bounce in loss of life fees. In general, alcohol fatalities between ladies rose by 27{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from 2019 to 2020.

The most significant increase was among the women ages 35 to 44, from 7.2 fatalities for every 100,000 in 2019 to 10.2 for each 100,000 in 2020 — an maximize of 42{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

The 2nd largest was among gals ages 25 to 34 — a 34{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} rise — even though the all round costs have been very low: 2.9 deaths for each 100,000 in 2019, up to 3.9 for every 100,000 in 2020.

The data demonstrates a worrisome challenge impacting girls, specifically mothers who took on extra youngster care tasks at residence when educational institutions went into lockdown.

The report Friday is one particular of a number of printed this week exhibiting the toll of ingesting. A analyze CDC scientists revealed Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open pinned the blame on alcohol in at minimum 1 in 5 fatalities in older people via age 49 from 2015 to 2019. The leads to of such deaths incorporated liver disorder, but also drunk driving deaths and alcohol poisonings.

A next report, posted Thursday by the CDC, located that liquor has killed men and women at greater costs in rural locations than in metropolitan areas since at least 2006.

Follow NBC Wellbeing on Twitter & Fb.

Erika Edwards is a well being and health care news author and reporter for NBC News and “Today.”

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Flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia: New report compares deaths

Flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia: New report compares deaths

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A new report compares deaths from COVID-19 to deaths from the flu and pneumonia in the United Kingdom. Liu Junxi/Xinhua via Getty Images
  • The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom released a report comparing deaths from COVID-19 to deaths from pneumonia and flu.
  • They found that since the COVID-19 outbreak, COVID-19 deaths have outpaced deaths from pneumonia and flu.
  • Experts say that these results highlight the need to continue following public safety measures such as getting vaccinated and wearing masks.

While deaths with COVID-19 as their underlying cause have fallen from previous peaks, they remain higher than those caused by flu and pneumonia.

While 90{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of deaths involving COVID-19 in the U.K. in spring 2020 and early part of 2021 were due to the condition, the same was true for 62{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of COVID-19-related deaths in the week ending April 1st, 2022.

To know whether COVID-19 is behaving similarly to the flu or pneumonia, the ONS conducted an analysis of deaths from COVID-19, pneumonia, and flu between 2020 and 2022.

Medical News Today contacted six experts to discuss how COVID-19, pneumonia, and the flu may be compared and how the public may act on the findings.

The ONS report was published on May 23rd, 2022.

For their analysis, the ONS used data from death certificates to count deaths from COVID-19 and other causes. This, they note, is different from public health measures that include deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test.

They used the term “due to COVID-19” to refer only to deaths caused by COVID-19. When taking into account all of the deaths that had COVID-19 mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, whether as an underlying cause or not, they used the term “involving COVID-19.” The ONS researchers used the same terms for flu and pneumonia.

From their analysis, the ONS noted that while deaths from COVID-19 occurred more evenly across age groups than flu and pneumonia, the elderly were more likely to be affected.

They noted that between 2020 and 2022, 73.7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of deaths due to flu and pneumonia occurred among those 80 years and over, compared to 58.3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of deaths due to COVID-19.

“The elderly do still make the largest portion of deaths,” Dr. Fady Youssef, a board-certified pulmonologist, internist, and critical care specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, told MNT.

“However, early on, COVID-19 did cause a much [higher] rate of deaths in younger age groups, with the sharpest rise in those aged 40 to 79 — meaning that COVID-19 posed a serious health risk to a young age group that [is] typically shielded from the worst outcomes when it comes to flu or pneumonia,” he added.

The ONS also found that there have been more deaths due to COVID-19 than flu in every year since 1929. They noted that 73,766 deaths in 2020 were due to COVID-19, and 67,258 in 2021, while there were 73,212 deaths due to flu in 1929.

Deaths due to flu, the researchers noted, also fell to record lows since COVID-19 started, to under 20,000 per year. Although deaths due to flu and pneumonia increased in the most recent winter, they remained below pre-COVID pandemic levels.

“These are all disease entities affecting the lungs and your ability to breathe and keep oxygen getting to your body and vital organs,” noted Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Control and Prevention at The University of Kansas Medical Center.

“These infections and our immune response can significantly reduce the proper functioning of our lungs leading to respiratory failure and death,” he told MNT.

Dr. Hawkinson noted, however, that there might be limitations in defining the conditions:

“I would like to point out that ‘pneumonia’ is merely an infection of the lower respiratory tract, i.e. the lungs. This infection may be caused by a virus (such as SARS-COV-2), a fungus, or a bacteria — I am assuming this article is referring to bacterial pneumonia, but it’s unclear if they are including other non-influenza, non-SARS-COV-2 viruses or fungal causes of pneumonia.”

Deaths from COVID-19 and flu in the US

Dr. David Cutler, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told MNT that it is also important to note that COVID-19 and flu affect the body in different ways:

“COVID-19 and flu are two very different diseases, with very different effects on the human body, and certainly very different levels of fatal outcomes.”

“So, by comparison, in the 2018–2019 flu season, before COVID-19 arrived, there were about 34,000 flu deaths in the U.S., an average year. In 2019–2020, just as covid was hitting and our behavior about masking and distancing changed, there were 22,000 flu deaths.”

“And from October 2020 until July 2021 when mask mandates and lockdowns were in effect, there were only 748 documented flu deaths.”

“By comparison, in the last 2 years, there have been over a million COVID-19 deaths, and we are still averaging over 300 deaths per day. Life expectancy in our country has fallen by 1.8 years, the most from any event since World War II. COVID-19 is now in the top three causes of death for all adult age groups, something flu has never come close to achieving.”

– Dr. Cutler

Similarities between COVID-19, pneumonia, and flu

When asked about the similarities between deaths due to COVID-19, pneumonia, and flu, Dr. Ali Mokdad, Chief Strategy Officer for Population Health at the University of Washington, told MNT: “With time, they will become similar.”

“All of them are seasonal, more present during winter (indoor activities) and will have a bad season some year depending on the variant — flu and COVID-19 will have more variants ahead.”

“We will need a vaccine before winter for all of them. I do not think that it will be mandated, but [rather] recommended for older people, those with risk factors and immunocompromised, and those working with patients or the older population (nursing homes),” he added.

When asked about major differences to bear in mind between COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia as a cause of death, an ONS spokesperson told MNT:

“It is worth bearing in mind that testing of patients for COVID-19 was more widespread during this period than it would have been for influenza and pneumonia, making it more likely to be identified as a cause of death.”

“The data is also impacted by the fact that widespread flu vaccinations have been available in the U.K. since 2000, whereas COVID-19 vaccinations for the most at-risk population only began in the U.K. in December 2020.”

“Perhaps a better way of comprehending the impact of COVID-19 is to look at total excess deaths,” noted Dr. Cutler, “These are the number of deaths over and above the number anticipated by historical averages. During the past 2 years, the World Health Organization puts this number at 15 million.”

“This is in contrast to the 6 million worldwide deaths currently attributed by individual countries to COVID-19. But even these large numbers do not give a full picture of the impact of COVID-19 and why we need to all take action to reduce the number of infections, serious illnesses as well as deaths,” he added.

When asked what this report means for the public, Dr. John Segreti, Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, told MNT:

“I think this report reminds us that flu is a significant health threat and that we need to take it as seriously as COVID-19. Mitigation strategies for both are the same: vaccination, avoid crowded poorly ventilated indoor areas, and consider wearing a mask when in public indoor spaces.”

Dr. Youssef added: “The report shows the deadly impact that COVID had over 2020-2021. As vaccines were rolled out and variants became less lethal, the deaths started down-trending.”

“The report adds further evidence to the need to adhere to public health guidance, understanding that while the guidance shifts over time, it is because our understanding of the data and the disease are evolving.”

“With the advancement made in medicine over the last several decades and a worldwide effort to combat the pandemic, the deaths caused by it have not been seen since 1929. If we did not have the response we had, the death would have likely been much higher,” he concluded.

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1 in 6 deaths globally linked to pollution

1 in 6 deaths globally linked to pollution
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New facts reveals that much more than 9 million fatalities globally are linked to air pollution. Laszlo Podor/Getty Photos
  • Scientists investigated the consequences of air pollution on community wellness between 2000 and 2019.
  • They identified that much more than 9 million deaths globally, or 1 in 6 fatalities globally, are linked to air pollution. 
  • They say that pollution-targeted insurance policies are wanted to control the results of pollution on community wellbeing and the climate. 

Pollution is an undesired squander of human origin that is released into the air, land, and water.

The 2017 Lancet Fee on air pollution and health found that in 2015 by itself, air pollution was accountable for around 16{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of deaths globally. 

Monitoring the results of air pollution on general public health could help create guidelines to stop damaging wellness repercussions. 

Just lately, scientists updated the 2017 Lancet Fee on air pollution and health and fitness with knowledge from 2019. 

Whilst deaths from household and h2o air pollution have fallen because 2015, pollution however brought about in excess of 9 million fatalities around the globe in 2019.

“Given the deficiency of prioritization of a sustainable setting, I am not shocked we have not progressed in decreasing air pollution-related wellness [issues] in the last 5 yrs,” Dana Boyd Barr, Ph.D., professor of Exposure Science and Environmental Health at Emory University, not included in the report, told Professional medical Information Now.

“The U.S. has some of the most relaxed environmental policies globally and contributes drastically to world wide pollution. The approximation of deaths attributable to environmental air pollution in this article is likely underestimated for the reason that of pollutants that are nonetheless to be regarded,” she included.

Evaluation: Air pollution-similar fatalities

The scientists made use of 2019 data from the Worldwide Load of Ailment, Injuries, and Hazard Things Analyze (GBD). They also assessed developments due to the fact 2000. 

The researchers noted that, involving 2000 and 2019, there was a steady decline in fatalities from household air air pollution and h2o sanitation, particularly in Africa. They recommend that the drop is mainly because of to advancements in water offer, sanitation, antibiotics, and cleaner fuels. 

Fatalities from other kinds of air pollution, on the other hand, have risen. Ambient particulate subject air air pollution was dependable for 4.5 million deaths in 2019, up from 4.2 million in 2015 and 2.9 million in 2000.

“According to the report, ambient particulate make a difference air pollution, most of which is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, is accountable for a lot more than 4 million fatalities for each year,” said Dr. Robert Dubrow, Ph.D., an epidemiology professor at Yale University who is not involved in the report.

“The use of fossil fuels for vitality is also the principal supply of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions creating local weather adjust,” he ongoing. 

The scientists also uncovered that about 90{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of pollution-related deaths happened in minimal-money and middle-income nations, notably South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. 

The researchers additional famous that despite the fact that their facts prompt that direct publicity was dependable for .9 million fatalities in 2019, the figure is possible bigger. 

Investigate suggests that even lower blood direct concentrations could guide to cardiovascular and renal toxicity. Further analyses have mentioned that guide exposure is extra widespread in youngsters than beforehand identified. 

The significant results on cognitive function of direct publicity lead to world-wide economic losses of $1 trillion per yr. 

The scientists also famous that the illness load from chemical air pollution is most likely underestimated. Only a several of the hundreds of made chemical substances in commerce have been sufficiently examined for basic safety and toxicity. 

The most about results of these chemical pollutants include things like badly documented pitfalls for developmental neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and immunotoxicity. 

Plan modify

The scientists claimed that there has been “strikingly minor effort” in most countries in building guidelines to suppress air pollution-connected repercussions to health and fitness since their previous report and tips in 2017.

Even so, they the moment yet again propose prioritizing air pollution and wellbeing safety nationally and internationally. They further advisable: 

  • Escalating global funding for air pollution prevention 
  • Setting up methods to keep an eye on and manage air pollution
  • Checking guide and chemical pollution 
  • Checking drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene 
  • Constructing multisectoral partnerships for pollution control 

The researchers concluded that worldwide companies and nationwide governments have to have to proceed increasing the target on pollution as a global environmental difficulty. 

When asked what the general public could do to mitigate the scenario, Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou ScD., Assistant Professor of Environmental Health and fitness Sciences at Columbia College, not associated in the report, claimed that there is very little the public can do. 

She observed: “Ambient air pollution is such a ubiquitous publicity and can even penetrate the making envelope and occur into our houses and residences.”

She included that personal procedures this sort of as paying attention to warnings about superior air pollution days, switching cooking procedures, and getting mass transit around one-occupancy driving would only minimally lower exposure. 

The two Dr. Dana Boyd Barr and Dr. Kioumourtzoglou agreed that there have to have to be neighborhood and federal guidelines limiting pollutive methods for substantial reductions.

“Given the substantial selection of fatalities from particulate make a difference air pollution, even if local climate improve have been not an situation, changing from fossil fuels to non-polluting renewable energy would be an urgent general public wellbeing precedence,” claimed Dr. Dubrow, “We have the technology to make this changeover. What is lacking is the political will.”

“The general public in the U.S. and the U.K. desires to elect representatives who are not beholden to the fossil fuel sector and who guidance vigorous environmental motion, which include funding to assistance reduced- and middle-profits nations make this changeover,” he explained. 

“Both local climate improve and air pollution are world difficulties that involve world remedies, and it is in the curiosity of men and women in the U.S. and the U.K. to enable make this changeover occur globally,” he concluded.

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Shanghai Reports First COVID-19 Deaths Of Latest Outbreak : NPR

Shanghai Reports First COVID-19 Deaths Of Latest Outbreak : NPR

In this photograph introduced by China’s Xinhua Information Agency, a clinical worker disinfects yet another right after getting samples for COVID-19 exams in a household spot in Shanghai, China, Saturday, April 16.

Jin Liwang/AP


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Jin Liwang/AP

In this photograph unveiled by China’s Xinhua Information Agency, a health-related employee disinfects an additional soon after taking samples for COVID-19 tests in a household space in Shanghai, China, Saturday, April 16.

Jin Liwang/AP

BEIJING (AP) — Shanghai authorities on Monday reported the first COVID-19 deaths of the hottest outbreak in China’s most populous and wealthiest metropolis.

All three who died were aged, experienced underlying conditions these types of as diabetes and hypertension and experienced not been vaccinated versus the coronavirus, city Wellbeing Fee inspector Wu Ganyu told journalists.

“Just after moving into clinic, their problems grew worse and they died soon after makes an attempt to help you save them ended up unsuccessful,” Wu reported.

The deaths raise to 4,641 the range of people today China suggests have succumbed to the disease considering that the virus was very first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019.

Most of Shanghai’s 25 million people are becoming confined to their properties for a third 7 days as China continues to make use of a “zero-tolerance” tactic to curb the outbreak, demanding isolation of any person quite possibly contaminated.

China on Monday mentioned 23,362 persons had tested beneficial for the virus above the former 24 hours, most of them showing no signs and symptoms and nearly all of them in Shanghai.

The town has reported extra than 300,000 cases since late March. Shanghai began easing limitations previous 7 days, although officials have warned the town would not have its outbreak below management.

Shanghai, which is home to China’s largest port and most vital inventory trade, appeared unprepared for such a large enterprise.

Citizens ran limited of foods and everyday necessities while enduring lockdown ailments, and tens of hundreds of folks put beneath healthcare observation have been sequestered in crowded facilities wherever lights are generally on, garbage bins overflow, meals is inadequate and warm showers nonexistent.

Any person who exams positive but has handful of or no signs is necessary to invest just one 7 days in a quarantine facility.

Concerns have risen about the economic impression of the government’s hardline policy.

China’s economic expansion edged up to a even now-weak 4.8{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} about a year before in the 1st a few months of 2022 as lockdowns cut output in key industrial towns. Formal facts showed growth accelerated from the earlier quarter’s 4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

While the ruling Communist Celebration has urged additional targeted avoidance steps, local officers have routinely adopted stringent polices, possibly for worry of staying fired or penalized above outbreaks in their areas.

In the metropolis of Wenzhou, which has viewed only a handful of conditions, authorities have licensed rewards of up to 50,000 yuan ($7,800) for details about people today who falsify their overall health standing, on-line information web-site The Paper noted.

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Are we overcounting COVID-19 deaths?

In slightly more than 2 years, authorities have recorded 5.75 million COVID-19 deaths worldwide. Some people believe that this is an overestimate of the actual mortality from the disease. Others think COVID-19 has caused many more deaths than the official figures show. Medical News Today has looked at the evidence and spoken with experts to uncover the truth behind the numbers.

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What do the COVID-19 death counts mean? Image credit: Daniele Frediani/Archivio Daniele Frediani/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images.

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, there are reasons for optimism.

Firstly, vaccines are reducing the number of deaths, at least in those countries where vaccination is widely available.

Secondly, evidence is growing that the latest variant, Omicron, causes less severe disease than previous variants. One study in California has shown a significantly lower risk of death with Omicron than with Delta, although the paper has yet to undergo peer review.

However, the global death toll has been enormous, with official figures placing it at more than 5.75 million. Of these deaths, more than 900,000 have occurred in the United States.

Some people dispute these numbers, claiming that COVID-19 did not actually cause many of the deaths for which the authorities held it responsible. So how are these deaths being counted?

Most countries record every death and its cause, providing a permanent legal record. In the United Kingdom, the guidelines on how to complete the medical certificate of cause of death run to several pages.

The doctor who records the death must note the primary cause of death and any contributing factors on the death certificate. And therein lies the problem.

COVID-19 can lead to multiple problems — pneumonia, respiratory failure, blood clots, stroke, and heart attack — any of which might cause death. And most of those who die after contracting COVID-19 have one or more comorbidities.

So, how many people have died of COVID-19, and how many have died with COVID-19?

Consider the example of an 86-year-old man in a care home with late stage dementia and coronary artery disease (CAD). He contracts COVID-19 but has few symptoms. Then, he dies. What was the primary cause of death?

One doctor might record dementia as the primary cause, with CAD and COVID-19 as contributing factors. Another might decide that COVID-19 was the primary cause as, without contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the man might have lived for a few more weeks with the other two conditions.

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, agreed that the actual cause of death can be hard to determine. “Deaths are, to a degree, imprecise,” he said to MNT. “A physician must make a judgment of cause of death.”

Whether the man died of COVID-19 or with COVID-19 is open to interpretation. And this is why some dispute the official figures.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a death from COVID-19 as “a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID-19 disease, e.g., trauma.”

The U.S. attributes death to COVID-19 where this disease, or the coronavirus that causes it, appears as a cause or contributing cause of death on the death certificate.

The U.K. records any death that occurs within 28 days of a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 as a COVID-19 death. The official U.K. COVID-19 death toll is now about 159,000.

However, a video that people have widely shared on social media has stated that the true number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.K. is 17,000 — just over one-tenth of the official number. This is the number of people for whom COVID-19 was the only recorded cause of death. Some people believe that this is the number that the government should publicize.

Similarly, in the U.S., CDC data showed that COVID-19 was the sole cause of only about 5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of listed COVID-19 deaths. These data led to the former U.S. president, Donald Trump, claiming on social media that the published figures were greatly exaggerating the severity of COVID-19.

When doctors determine that COVID-19 is not the sole cause of death, they record other causes on the death certificate. In the U.S., at least 90{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of such recorded deaths had COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death rather than a contributing cause.

So although we could say that all of these people died with COVID-19 and not of COVID-19, the disease almost certainly played a role in their deaths.

One way of avoiding this issue is to record excess deaths during the pandemic and attribute these to COVID-19, rather than looking at how many people had COVID-19 on their death certificate. However, this approach has its own problems.

Experts calculate the excess death rate by comparing figures for a given period with the average for that same period over several previous years. So, a person looking for excess deaths in January 2022 might compare the deaths in that month with the January average for, say, the past 10 years.

The problem with counting excess deaths, though, is that it does not take into account changes in populations. In many countries, populations are getting older.

In 2000, over-65s accounted for approximately 1 in 8 people in both Europe and the U.S. By 2020, more than one-fifth of Europeans were over the age of 65 years, and people in this age bracket made up one-seventh of the U.S. population. And these numbers are increasing rapidly.

As populations get older, more people die. So, comparing the death rates in 2021 with those from previous years might give a skewed perspective. Some of those excess deaths would have occurred without the pandemic.

In addition, deaths from some causes, such as infectious diseases, have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and physical distancing. This will affect the excess deaths figure.

Despite misgivings from some quarters, most experts believe that COVID-19 deaths are not being overcounted. Indeed, many think that undercounting is more likely, particularly in the early months of the pandemic.

“Early on, there was not widespread testing, so we underestimated the deaths. Now, the death data are more reliable. There may be some plus or minus, but death data are pretty accurate.”

– Dr. William Schaffner

Dr. Arturo Casadevall, a distinguished professor and chair of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, echoed this view.

“My view is that the current number of COVID-19 deaths is an undercounting simply because those deaths reflect the ones we know about, and not every death caused by this disease was recorded or diagnosed as such,” he told MNT.

Higher income countries record all deaths, noting the causes on the death certificate. This is not the case worldwide.

The problem of unrecorded deaths is particularly acute in low and middle income countries. When a death is unrecorded, only those who witness the death may know its cause.

In India, the WHO has recorded more than 500,000 deaths due to COVID-19, but household surveys and statistical models suggest that the number could be as much as 10 times higher. Without good data on deaths and births, the COVID-19 death toll can never be certain.

The true death toll of COVID-19 may not be known for many years. Many experts also believe that the final numbers should also include those who died not with COVID-19 but because of it.

“The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 does not include other deaths associated with the pandemic, such as those caused by the absence of proper care for other conditions because the healthcare system was focused on COVID-19, and much routine care such as cancer screening was slowed or postponed.”

– Dr. Arturo Casadevall

While the pandemic continues, it will be difficult to get a true figure for global deaths. “Death data are a lagging indicator. They are pretty reliable, but it takes longer for people to die and the data to be collected,” Dr. Schaffner cautioned.

However long it takes for the true figures to emerge, the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted, and continues to inflict, an appalling global death toll. And it is becoming clear that the figures are almost certainly underreported, as Dr. Casadevall explained:

“I think that in coming years, we will see revisions to this number with higher estimates of total deaths as we come to better understand the toll of this calamity.”

For live updates on the latest developments regarding COVID-19, click here.

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Covid-19 Latest News Updates: Maharashtra records 42,462 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths

Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 42,462 new coronavirus infections, 749 less than Friday, besides 23 deaths, the state health department said. The number of recovered cases surged to 67,60,514 after 39,646 patients were discharged during the day. The overall caseload rose to 71,70,483, and death toll reached 1,41,779. Also, 125 new Omicron cases came to light in the state during the day, raising the tally of such infections to 1,730.

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Wrap Up: All you need to know

  • Virat Kohli quits Test captaincy, a day after series-defeat against South Africa
  • COVID-19: Goa positivity rate at 38{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}; logs 3,274 cases
  • Maharashtra records 42,462 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths
  • Sikkim logs 369 new COVID-19 cases, two fresh fatalities
  • Bengal logs 19,064 new COVID-19 cases, 39 fresh fatalities
  • 22 more coronavirus deaths in Punjab, 6,883 cases
  • Assam registers 44 pc jump in fresh COVID-19 cases in single day
  • India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 156 crore
  • Haryana reports 9,050 fresh COVID-19 cases, 7 fatalities
  • Bihar logs 6,325 new COVID-19 cases, 4 fresh fatalities

Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, requesting him “to allow West Bengal tableau showing its cultural heritage & Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s life & contributions in our freedom struggle on Republic Day”

Night curfew: 470 booked for Covid violations in Delhi

Sikkim logs 369 new COVID-19 cases, two fresh fatalities

Corona is a unique virus as it has a very high rate of mutation. I hope as we move forward in this year probably we will come out of the pandemic very soon. We have to take vaccine, booster doses to contain its spread

– Dr Kutub Mahmood

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 156 crore

It’s a great achievement for India. Indian vaccines are globally used. So this is a great feat to celebrate as Indis has completed over 60{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of vaccination coverage

– Dr Kutub Mahmood, Scientific Director, Immunology & Microbiology, PATH, Washington DC, US

Maharashtra | 81 police personnel tested positive for COVID in the last 24 hours

Total 126 personnel died so far; Active cases 1,312: Mumbai Police

COVID19 | 42,462 new cases & 23 deaths reported in Maharashtra today

  • Active caseload stands at 2,64,441
  • 125 Omicron infections were reported in the state today, taking the case tally to 1,730.

COVID19 | Chhattisgarh reports 5,525 new cases and 8 deaths

Active caseload at 32,139

COVID19 | Goa reports 3,274 new cases & 4 deaths today

Active caseload at 20,078

14 cases of Omicron variant found in Jharkhand today

87 samples had been sent to Bhubaneswar for genome sequencing. Out of 87, 14 are confirmed cases of Omicron and 1 Delta variant detected: Arun Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary

Assam COVID cases | 3,390 new cases, 4 deaths and 876 recoveries reported today

Active cases 17,777

Punjab CM Charanjit S Channi wrote to Chief Election Commissioner on Jan 13, requesting him “to postpone Feb 14 State Assembly polls for at least six days as many people from SC community from the State likely to visit Varanasi,in view of Guru Ravidas birth anniversary on Feb 16”

Samyukta Kisan Morcha calls for observing a nationwide “Day of Betrayal” on 31 January against the government’s reneging on its assurances to the farmers

31 more police personnel test COVID19 positive today in Pune city. The number of infected police personnel in the city rises to 465: Pune Police

Tsunami advisory issued for the US West Coast, Hawaii following large volcanic eruption near Tonga: US media

Uttar Pradesh assembly polls: Election Commission issues notice to Samajwadi Party over violation of Covid norms

We’ve arrested a person named Jagdish Singh Sagar (main accused of Vyapam case) yesterday under Arms Act. During screening of his bag at airport, CISF found a live cartridge and informed us. He told us that he had a license which he couldn’t renew after 2012

– Soumya Jain, Indore ACP

Maharashtra | 5,705 new cases and 2 deaths reported in the Pune Municipal Corporation area today

The total number of active cases has reached 31,907.

PV Sindhu bows out after losing the semi-final clash against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong 14-21, 21-13, 10-21 in India Open 2022

Bengal’s COVID-19 tally rises to 18,82,761 with 19,064 new cases, 3,581 less than previous day; 39 fresh fatalities push toll to 20,052: Health Dept

Jharkhand extends ongoing COVID-19 restrictions till Jan 31: Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh

Congratulations to Virat Kohli on a tremendous tenure as Team India captain. Virat turned the team into a ruthless fit unit that performed admirably both in India and away. The Test wins in Australia & England have been special

– Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary

Central Bureau of Investigation has filed FIR against ES Ranganathan, Director (Marketing), GAIL for allegedly demanding bribes through middlemen for granting discounts on petrochemical products marketed by GAIL; further investigation underway

COVID19 | 23,989 new cases & 11 deaths in Tamil Nadu today

Active cases stand at 1,31,007

COVID19 | Mumbai reports 10,661 new cases & 11 deaths today

Active cases 73,518

I have always believed in giving 120 per cent in everything I do, and If I can’t do that, I know it’s not right thing to do

– Virat Kohli

Cricketer Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain

Test positivity rises to 15{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in Karnataka with 32,793 new cases reported today

Only sick patients requiring emergency care may visit hospitals & autonomous institutions, in view of the prevailing COVID19 situation. All other patients with mild illness shouldn’t visit hospitals for the next 2 weeks or until further orders to prevent crowding

– Karnataka govt

Odisha logs 10,856 new COVID-19 cases, Omicron tally mounts to 202

Odisha’s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 11,22,735 on Saturday with 10,856 fresh infections, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 8,478, the Health Department said in a bulletin. The state also reported 32 new Omicron cases taking the tally of the new strain of coronavirus in Odisha to 202, a health department official said.

In today’s Covid19 review meeting, it has been decided that no changes are required in ongoing guidelines and restrictions. We have ordered medical stores to maintain a record of persons who purchase the COVID19 antigen self test kits

– Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar

Army Chief General MM Naravane released a commemorative postage stamp on ‘Permanent Commission to Women Officers’ in the Force

Chandigarh reports 1,795 new cases today

  • Active cases at 8,511
  • Positivity rate at 26.71{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}

After Model Code of Conduct came into force in Punjab for Assembly elections, enforcement teams seized valuables, including cash, psychotropic substances & 2.72 lakh litres of liquor, worth Rs 40.31cr in violation of code till Jan 14:State Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju

Kerala reports 17,755 new COVID19 cases & 17 deaths today

  • Active caseload stands at 90,649
  • Death toll: 50,674

Movement of trains through the derailment affected site of Bikaner-Guwahati Express has resumed today

The restoration work started immediately after the rescue & relief operation was completed, after 9 passengers died & 36 got injured on Jan 13: CPRO, Northeast Frontier Railway

COVID19 | Delhi reports 20,718 new cases & 30 deaths in last 24 hours

  • Active cases rise to 93,407
  • Positivity rate remains at 30.64{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}

GoI’s position on the India-Nepal boundary has been communicated to the Nepal Govt

Till now, Centre has neither formed a committee on MSP nor approached us on it. Govt hasn’t removed the MoS whose son is involved in Lakhimpur Kheri incident. If govt doesn’t respond to our demands then we’ll celebrate ‘Virodh Diwas’ on Jan 31

– Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union

Election Commission further bans poll rallies & roadshows in poll-bound states till 22nd January

COVID-19: Mizoram reports 477 new cases today; Active case tally at 8,048

Mexico sees fake molnupiravir, 1 week after drug approved

Mexico said Friday it is already seeing black market or fake versions of molnupiravir circulating for sale, just one week after authorities approved the drug to treat those at risk of severe COVID-19. The real medication is produced by US pharmaceutical company Merck. But Mexico’s health regulatory agency found versions labelled molnupiravir for sale from an array of companies like “Merit,” “Molaz” and “Azista.”

I will contest the election from the Khatima constituency. We all are together and ready to contest polls. This time, we have given a slogan ‘Abki Baar 60 Paar’. The candidates’ list will be announced soon

– Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami after the BJP Core Committee meeting

Unilever offered 50 billion pounds for GSK unit

Consumer goods giant Unilever made a bid towards the end of last year for pharmaceutical group Glaxosmithkline’s consumer goods business worth roughly 50 billion pounds ($68.4 billion), Britain’s Sunday Times reported. GSK and Pfizer, which owns a minority stake in the division, were understood to have rejected the offer on the basis that it was too low, the newspaper said. The approach by Unilever, which owns brands such as Dove soap and Marmite, for Glaxo’s portfolio of household brands including Panadol painkillers and Sensodyne toothpaste was understood to have been unsolicited, it added.

Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu joins Manipur Police

COVID-19 cases rising in poll-bound Manipur

Manipur Health and Family Welfare Department’s Additional Director Khoirom Sasbeekumar Mangang said that the daily positivity rate of the Covid cases in Manipur has been fluctuating during the past one week. “During the holidays the positivity rate is little less and during the working days the Covid-19 positivity rate is increasing,” Mangang, who is the spokesperson of the Health and Family Welfare Department, told IANS.

Senior Bihar Congress leader Vijay Shankar Mishra, a two-term former MLC, has died at the age of 76 after prolonged illness. CM Nitish Kumar calls Mishra’s demise an irreparable loss, says he was an able politician and social worker.

A crematorium for animals is proposed in BMC’s budget which will be constructed in 2500 square feet space in Dahisar. There was no crematorium for pets in Mumbai. This initiative is for the animals who can’t speak for themselves: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain: We can say that Delhi has reached its peak in terms of cases. Cases have started slowing down. Let’s see when the decline happens.

Congress fields Punjab deputy CMs — Sukhjinder Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak and Om Prakash Soni from Amritsar Central for state polls.

Punjab Assembly Elections list released, here are some contestants:

  • Navjot Singh Sidhu: Amritsar East
  • Charanjit Singh Channi: Chamkaur Sahib
  • Malvika Sood: Moga
  • Pratap Singh Bajwa: Qadian
  • Sidhu Moosewala: Mansa

New combat uniform of Indian Army

10 seats for women, 44 seats for OBC candidates and 19 seats for SC, in upcoming assembly polls: BJP

HDFC Bank posts 18{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} rise in standalone net profit to Rs 10,342.20 cr in December 2021 quarter: Company filing

I appeal to the leaders party workers to abide by EC guidelines, COVID protocols whenever they come to the office…I have also heard that a notice was also put up at our office today: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

BJP names 107 candidates for UP polls in first list; 63 of 83 sitting MLAs repeated, 20 dropped

  • Yogi Adityanath: Gorakhpur
  • Keshav Prasad Maurya: Sirathu
  • Tejendra Singh Nirwal: Shamli
  • Umesh Malik: Budhana

Deputy CM Kesav Prasad Maurya to contest UP Polls from Sirathu in Prayagraj district: BJP

CM Yogi Adityanath to contest UP Polls from Gorakhpur: BJP