COVID-19

What does ‘excess deaths’ mean – and can it give a clearer picture of the number of coronavirus fatalities?

A medical specialist wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) takes a blood sample from a conscript to test for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a recruiting station in Kaliningrad, Russia May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar - RC2ISG9RY3E3

There was a substantial number of excess deaths in the first half of 2020. Image: REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar

Charlotte Edmond
Senior Writer, Forum Agenda
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Weekly excess deaths
Weekly excess deaths. Image: The Health Foundation
Estimations of all-cause mortality.
Estimations of all-cause mortality. Image: EuroMOMO
Weekly excess deaths of all ages across 24 participating European countries, including the UK and Italy.
Weekly excess deaths of all ages across 24 participating European countries, including the UK and Italy. Image: https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps/#
Excess deaths across European countries.
Excess deaths across European countries. Image: The Health Foundation
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