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

Jul 29, 2020

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. Image: The Health Foundation

Estimations of all-cause mortality. Image: EuroMOMO

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. Image: The Health Foundation

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