UK coronavirus death toll 40 percent higher than reported
Al JazeeraOffice for National Statistics reports extra 3,833 deaths in data that includes fatalities in care homes and hospices. The true extent of Britain’s COVID-19 death toll was more than 40 percent higher than the government’s daily figures indicated as of April 10, according to data that put the country on track to become among the worst-hit in Europe. Britain, which scientists say is probably now experiencing the peak of the outbreak, has reported the world’s fifth-highest national death toll from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. If these figures underestimate the overall death toll by a similar amount, then the true human cost for the United Kingdom as a whole could be above 23,000 based on the latest data – making it the second-worst hit in Europe after Italy. “ it is also likely that at least some of these were indirectly involved, such as through inability to access typical medical care for other conditions because of COVID-19 activities.” COVID-19 was mentioned in a third of all death certificates issued in England and Wales in the week to April 19.