General Insurance Article - True death rate may be double the official figure

 Steven Baxter, head of innovation at Club Vita comments on what the true picture for deaths is likely to be in the UK: “The true picture for deaths in the UK as a result of COVID19 is likely to be close to 60,000. Double the figures being quoted by Downing Street.

 Despite the briefings now including both hospital deaths and deaths in the community where the individual has tested positive COVID-19, it is sad to say that underreporting is still an issue. 

 “To explain, there are a significant number of death certificates which note COVID-19 as contributory cause of death. The latest information from the ONS confirms this and suggests that the true toll for deaths directly related to Covid-19 is likely to be around 40,000.

 “However since early April we have also seen unseasonably high levels of deaths which make no mention of Covid-19; around 3,000 higher each week than usual for this time of year. Putting all this together means that the combined direct and indirect loss of life from COVID-19 may now be 60,000; double the official number.”