Belgium, which has already identified nearly 9,000 coronavirus deaths, one of the highest mortality rates in the world, claimed on Friday May 15 the counting method the most honest
, corresponding to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This type of surveillance (census) represents what WHO currently recommends, to such an extent that the Belgium was congratulated last week
by the UN’s specialized agency, said a spokesperson for the Belgian health authorities, Dr Yves Van Laethem.
This type of monitoring is one that other countries are invited to follow in the future
, added the infectious diseases specialist, at a press conference.
> Follow our May 15 live article on the coronavirus pandemic here.
Deaths suspected of being related to illness included
In addition to the deaths of people tested positive for the virus, the Belgian authorities include in their figures those of untested patients whose deaths are suspected to be linked to the disease. A large count that applies to deaths in hospital as well as those in nursing homes.
Since May 5, deaths from possible hospital cases are reported daily, in accordance with WHO recommendation
, specifies the daily epidemiological bulletin of the authorities.
Possible deaths concern patients who have not received a test for Covid-19, but which responded to clinical criteria of the disease according to the doctor
, he emphasizes.
773 deaths per million compared to 259 in the United States
Belgium, a country of 11.5 million people, on Friday recorded 8,959 deaths from the coronavirus (for 54,644 positive cases), representing a rate of 773 deaths per million.
In comparison, the nearly 86,000 deaths in the most bereaved country in the United States resulted in a rate of 259.5, according to data compiled by the AFP. And that figure was 587.3 for Spain (nearly 27,500 dead).
According to Dr. Van Laethem, in Europe some official counts do not reflect the reality of mortality due to the coronavirus. He cited in particular Italy and the Netherlands, whose seasonal excess mortality figures represented the end of March double the mortality reported for Covid
.
In Belgium, apart from a few cases, we have the same overall excess mortality as that linked to Covid-19. This shows that our way of declaring things is probably scientifically the most adequate and the most honest.
, concluded the doctor.
– .
