Boston, MA – A recent study conducted by the School of Public Health and the University of Pennsylvania sheds light on the true impact of COVID-19 on excess mortality rates in the United States. The study, published in the journal PNAS, reveals that many deaths attributed to natural causes were actually uncounted COVID-19 deaths.
With nearly 1,170,000 reported deaths from COVID-19 in the US, researchers found that these numbers are significantly undercounted. The study focused on comparing reported COVID-19 deaths to excess deaths from non-COVID natural causes, such as diseases and chronic illnesses. It uncovered a striking correlation between increases in non-COVID excess deaths and reported COVID-19 deaths in most US counties.
Lead author Andrew Stokes highlighted the importance of accurately assigning deaths during a pandemic, as it forms the basis of understanding the disease and organizing an effective response. The researchers utilized novel statistical methods to analyze data from over 3,000 counties during the first 30 months of the pandemic, revealing that approximately 1.2 million excess natural-cause deaths occurred.
These findings challenge political assertions and public beliefs that have wrongly attributed mortality during the pandemic to COVID-19 vaccinations or shelter-in-place policies. The study also underscores the need for accurate death investigations to provide closure to families and guide public health decisions.
Geographical variations in death patterns were observed, with rural areas and certain regions showing discrepancies in reporting COVID-19 deaths. The researchers hope that their findings will inspire further analyses using hospitalizations and local data to distinguish uncounted COVID-19 deaths from other causes.
The study was coauthored by a team of researchers and funded by various organizations, emphasizing the collaborative effort and diverse expertise involved in uncovering the true toll of the pandemic. By shedding light on the uncounted COVID-19 deaths, the study aims to enhance future pandemic mitigation strategies and improve death reporting accuracy.
In conclusion, the study underscores the critical importance of accurate data in understanding and responding to public health crises. The researchers call for increased resources and commitment to ensure precise death investigations, highlighting the essential role of data accuracy in guiding public health policies and interventions.