Editor's Pick: Tracking excess deaths

According to data accessed and analysed by The Hindu, the actual number of COVID-19 deaths in Kolkata in 2021 could be as much as 4.5 times higher than the official figure of 1,371. In fact, data on death certificates from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation show that in the April-May period, the number of actual deaths may be as much as 6.87 times the reported figure for that period, which is 1,198. These calculations were done by estimating the excess deaths in that period when compared to the same period in the previous non-COVID years. There were 17,587 certified deaths in April and May 2021 while the average number of certified deaths in the same period between 2015-2019 were 9,353. This means that there were 8,234 excess deaths this year with the most likely reason being COVID-19. Some of the excess deaths may also be due to lack of availability of normal healthcare facilities during this period. The Hindu had earlier published studies for Mumbai and Chennai which show a similar trend of excess deaths. Kolkata has a higher undercounting factor than these cities. Gujarat has the highest factor for undercounting at over 10. Outside India, WHO has estimated that deaths are about 1.6 times the official figures in Europe and North America. While anecdotal evidence has already indicated that the actual death toll in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is much higher than the officially reported numbers, the method of calculating excess death based on death certificate data is helping to identify an approximation of the actual number of deaths. This is what makes the story important. The Hindu's Editorials Timely windfall: On RBI's fund transfer In two minds: On Tokyo Olympics Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click here Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Name the architect who designed South Block offices of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of External Affairs, as well as the North Block offices of the Home and Finance Ministries Herbert Baker Edwin Lutyens Frederick Gibberd Edward Maufe To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 29 MAY 2021 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Tracking excess deaths [Tracking excess deaths] According to data accessed and analysed by The Hindu, the actual number of COVID-19 deaths in Kolkata in 2021 could be as much as [4.5 times higher than the official figure]( of 1,371. In fact, data on death certificates from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation show that in the April-May period, the number of actual deaths may be as much as 6.87 times the reported figure for that period, which is 1,198. These calculations were done by estimating the excess deaths in that period when compared to the same period in the previous non-COVID years. There were 17,587 certified deaths in April and May 2021 while the average number of certified deaths in the same period between 2015-2019 were 9,353. This means that there were 8,234 excess deaths this year with the most likely reason being COVID-19. Some of the excess deaths may also be due to lack of availability of normal healthcare facilities during this period. The Hindu had earlier published studies for Mumbai and [Chennai]( show a similar trend of excess deaths. Kolkata has a higher undercounting factor than these cities. [Gujarat]( has the highest factor for undercounting at over 10. Outside India, WHO has estimated that deaths are about 1.6 times the official figures in Europe and North America. While anecdotal evidence has already indicated that the actual death toll in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is much [higher than the officially reported numbers]( the method of calculating excess death based on death certificate data is helping to identify an approximation of the actual number of deaths. This is what makes the story important. The Hindu's Editorials [Arrow][Timely windfall: On RBI's fund transfer]( [Arrow][In two minds: On Tokyo Olympics]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( [underlineimg]  Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Name the architect who designed South Block offices of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of External Affairs, as well as the North Block offices of the Home and Finance Ministries - Herbert Baker - Edwin Lutyens - Frederick Gibberd - Edward Maufe To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today's Best Reads [[Democracy at stake in Nepal] Democracy at stake in Nepal]( [[The Hindu Explains | France’s role in the Rwandan genocide] The Hindu Explains | France’s role in the Rwandan genocide]( [[Government puts off decision on tax relief for COVID-19 supplies] Government puts off decision on tax relief for COVID-19 supplies]( [[Help children orphaned by COVID-19, orders Supreme Court] Help children orphaned by COVID-19, orders Supreme Court]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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