According to official figures, the number of deaths from Kovid during the winter months is comparable to the number of deaths from flu in previous years.
Deaths from the virus skyrocketed in the first waves of the pandemic, before a vaccine was developed and released.
This, combined with immunity to natural infections, means that the death rate from Covid now is “more in line” with the death rate from flu or pneumonia in pre-pandemic years.
As of January this year, there were 4,100 deaths in England and Wales, mostly caused by Covid infection, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This equates to an average of 4,048 deaths from flu or pneumonia in January in the four years preceding the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Official figures announced that winter deaths from Covid are comparable to flu deaths in previous years
The data shows that the trend is similar for other winter months in December, February and March.
Experts say deaths from flu and pneumonia during the pandemic years are significantly below average due to reduced socialization and mixing.
The findings are part of the first detailed effort to compare Covid and influenza as causes of death during the epidemic.
Other findings show that flu and pneumonia were mentioned more frequently than Covid in death certificates from March 2020 to April 2022, but Covid was four times as frequent as the “leading” cause of death. The ONS said deaths from flu and pneumonia fell to an all-time low during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Although the number of deaths from Covid-19 last winter was twice the number of deaths from flu and pneumonia, it was more similar to the number of deaths from flu and pneumonia in the years before the epidemic.
Other findings show that flu and pneumonia were mentioned more frequently than Covid in death certificates from March 2020 to April 2022, but Covid was four times as frequent as the “leading” cause of death. “Deaths from flu and pneumonia fell to historic lows during the coronavirus pandemic,” ONS said. Said.
Sarah Caul, head of death analysis at the ONS, said it was difficult to directly compare deaths from Covid with flu and pneumonia due to the way conditions are recorded and the increasing level of protection of the population.
“However, it is too early to say whether Covid-19 will develop a seasonal pattern similar to flu and pneumonia.”
The data also show that the average age of death from COVID-19 is lower than from flu and pneumonia.
Sarah Caul, head of death analysis at the ONS, said it’s difficult to directly compare deaths from Covid with flu and pneumonia because of the way conditions are recorded and the increasing degree of protection in the population.
“Infection and antibody levels, vaccination rates, restrictions and blocks and differences between Covid-19 variants affect all data on Covid-19 deaths.”
‘Some of these factors also affected deaths from flu and pneumonia. We cannot say with certainty whether conditions will behave the same way or whether they will behave in the future. We will continue to monitor the data.’
Source: Daily Mail
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