David Oliver: Mistruths and misunderstandings about covid-19 death numbers
This article mentions a few details in what I’m referring to. While it has the intent to remind everyone the seriousness of COVID in general, the author addresses some of the concerns regarding reporting.
- 90% of deaths counted among COVID, had block 1 (on the coroner’s form) listed with COVID. That is the main cause of death and/or largely contributing factor. Doesn’t really explain the additional 10%.
- COVID could still be added to death up to (and in some cases passed) 28 days after testing positive. Author also sites that 31% of hospital admissions are readmitted with 9% of those dying.
- author acknowledges the initial counts having accuracy issues (no specific numbers) because testing was limited as a whole and the PCR test having up to 29% false positives.
Fact check: 94% of individuals with additional causes of death still had COVID-19
This is an old article (sep 20) but does help explain where some of the mistrust comes from on the actual determining factor of death. Not disputing their false claim on 6% as COVID deaths, the number is clearly higher than that, so I agree with the intent of the article disputing that statements being shared as “false”.
The authors do mention the various subjectivity in determining the cause though. While they agree only 6% (at that time) had ONLY COVID listed as death cause, it covers the various other conditions that can play various amounts of impact with COVID on top of it.
I only think they bean counters should take a look at the average heart disease, diabetes, whatever else deaths, and at least put the numbers together that of those 800K, the likelihood is that Xx amount would have likely died (per averages) without COVID too. I see that as a little disingenuous to count them as COVID deaths.
We Could Be Vastly Overestimating the Death Rate for COVID-19 — Here's Why - Our World
Another old article but important regarding how the initial outbreak was being calculated which I believe strongly played into overreactions.
Bottom line, we know asymptomatic people weren’t necessarily tested, so never counted including people who may have called to say they had symptoms but followed dr discretion and just stayed home until better (example in article). Because these were not factored in, the mortality rate was likely pushed as much higher than actual.
Fact check: Changes to the counting of COVID-19 deaths in August reduced England’s death toll
Another article regarding how numbers were reported. England admitted that people died and were marked as a COVID death almost indefinitely after the positive test. This process was changed in Aug 21. Not a dishonest effort (I think) but protocol changed, still following the idea of a positive test w/in 28 days being marked a COVID death. While I say that still leads to additional inaccurate numbers, it more accurate than before, so dr/nurses were not lying, but numbers may have been inflated.
N.Y.C. Death Toll Soars Past 10,000 in Revised Virus Count (Published 2020)
While this doesn’t explain why they added 3700 deaths, it’s a completely subjective addition inconsistent with all locations and the reporting protocols. I’m no dr, I’m sure they can make a legit guess that someone may have died from COVID, but without a positive test, it legit isnt proved and people are making decisions that affect everyone off these numbers.