Britain’s Covid death rate ISN’T one of the worst: Country ranks 102nd out of 191 nations in league table of excess deaths, major study finds
- The UK ranks roughly in middle of global league table of excess death rates
- It comes 102nd out of 191 countries and territories on the table
- Experts believe excess deaths are better indicator of true scale of pandemic because they discount those who would have died anyway
Britain’s pandemic death rate compares far more favourably with other nations than previously thought, a study reveals.
The UK ranks roughly in the middle of a global league table of excess death rates, coming 102nd out of 191 countries and territories.
Previously, countries have been judged by Covid death rates alone, which relies on infections being accurately recorded.
These would place Britain at 168 – or 24th worst.
Critics of the Government’s pandemic response have cited the UK’s poor position as justification for tougher restrictions.
The UK ranks roughly in the middle of a global league table of excess death rates, coming 102nd out of 191 countries and territories
But research by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows Britain performs better when assessed against a fairer standard.
It found Britain had an excess death rate of 126.8 per 100,000, which is very close to the global average of 120 per 100,000, with France on 124.4 and Germany on 120.5.
Sweden, which did not lock down, had one of the best excess death rates in Europe, coming in at 65, with 91.2 per 100,000.
Excess deaths are the difference between the number of recorded deaths from all causes and the number expected based on past trends.
Some deaths would have been caused directly as a result of Covid infection and others as an indirect consequence, such as disruption to healthcare.
Prophets of virus gloom
‘I know of no country that is successfully living with the virus while avoiding lockdown and restriction cycles, a high death toll, or – as in the UK – both.’ Christina Pagel, Sage advisory group
‘We should not have one of the highest death rates in the world… But… further restrictions are becoming increasingly likely and, sadly, necessary.’ Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader
Experts believe excess deaths are a better indicator of the true scale of the pandemic because they discount those who would have died anyway.
The indicator also exposes countries which have under-recorded deaths from Covid due to a lack of testing, poor administration or political will.
The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, suggests many countries have been under-reporting deaths, with the true toll of Covid globally likely to be three times the official figure, at 18.2million rather than 5.9million as of the end of last year.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said: ‘When you look at the excess death rate, rather than the Covid death rate, it suggests the UK has not fared as badly relative to other countries during the pandemic. Excess deaths is a less-biased measure as most middle and higher income countries will accurately record all deaths.’
Separate analysis, published by the charity Hospice UK, reveals that more than 100,000 extra deaths have taken place in private homes in the UK since the pandemic began.
Previously, countries have been judged by Covid death rates alone, which relies on infections being accurately recorded
But while Covid has been one of the main drivers of excess deaths in hospitals and care homes, the virus has accounted for only a minority of extra deaths in private residences.
Many were due to heart disease, cancer and dementia, data from the Office for National Statistics indicates.
Covid infections have risen in all four nations of the UK, with levels in Scotland at a record high, the ONS added yesterday.
It is the first time since the end of January that all nations have seen a simultaneous week-on-week increase in infections.
Government figures show 399,820 people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK in the week to yesterday, an increase of 56.3 per cent on the total of 255,864 for the previous seven days.
The number dying within 28 days of a positive test was up by 2.8 per cent over the same period, from 710 last week to 730 over the past week.
Experts believe excess deaths are a better indicator of the true scale of the pandemic because they discount those who would have died anyway
Source: Read Full Article