In India, the number of victims of the COVID pandemic may be underestimated by 10 times

The real number of deaths among those infected with coronavirus in India is 10 times higher than official data and could be about 5 million, about which testifies research by the Center for Global Development, based in Washington.

“In India, the number of deaths due to infection with COVID-19 as of the end of June 2021, according to official figures, is 400 thousand. In reality, of course, everything is catastrophically worse. (…) Unfortunately, it is obvious that (died) too many people, millions rather than hundreds of thousands could have died, ”the center’s report says.

According to researchers, the first wave of coronavirus “was more lethal than it is believed”, during which 2 million people could die. This indicator is called excess mortality in the report, it indicates additional deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

In the first period of the second wave of COVID-19 infections, the excess mortality was 1.4 million cases. Thus, the real indicator of total excess mortality may be about 3.5 million. According to the report, this is evidenced by the data of state registration of acts of civil status.

From the start of the pandemic to June 2021, India has an even higher additional fatality rate of 4.9 million, according to a consumption pyramid household survey.

“We want to emphasize that we are not evaluating deaths caused by COVID. (…) We focus on all-cause mortality and estimate additional mortality since the onset of a pandemic compared to pre-pandemic rates, taking into account seasonal adjustments, ”the study authors explain. quotes Interfax.

It is noted that not all additional deaths could have occurred due to the coronavirus, however, it is highly likely that COVID-19 caused a significant proportion of deaths.

Earlier in July, the Associated Press reported that more than half of the official deaths due to COVID-19 infection occurred in India in the past two months. This is largely due to the spread of the more contagious Delta strain, which has disrupted India’s entire health care system.

Data from the University of the Institute for Health Metrics and Assessment in Washington indicate that the real death rate in India is over 1.1 million.

According to the statistical website Worldometer, India has officially recorded 414.5 thousand deaths among COVID-19 patients. At the same time, over 31 million cases of coronavirus infection were detected in the country.