WHO: 4.7 Million Covid Deaths In India, Govt Denies It

The World Health Organisation releases its new estimations which say that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with Covid between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, was approximately 14.9 million, representing 9.49 million more deaths than those globally reported as directly attributable to Sars-Cov2 virus.

The number of deaths reported globally was 5.42 million, with excess deaths nearly three times higher than known. As per the WHO estimates, 20 countries account for over 80 per cent of the estimated global excess mortality for the 24-month period. These countries are Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, the Russian Federation, South Africa, UK and Northern Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine and the US.

4.7 Million Deaths In India; 10 x Higher:

The estimates show 5.99 million deaths in South East Asia, with 4.7 million (47 lakh) estimated in India. The 4.7 million excess deaths were 10 times higher than the reported toll of 4,81,486 (1,48,994 in 2020 and 3,32,492 in 2021), it said.

India Questions WHO Over Death Calculation:

India has questioned the WHO excess death calculation model as statistically unsound and scientifically questionable. “India has been consistently objecting to the methodology adopted by the WHO to project excess mortality estimates based on mathematical models. Despite objections, the WHO has released the excess mortality estimates without adequately addressing India’s concerns,” a government statement said.

“The model isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. It takes the specificity of countries (income level, reported Covid death rate, test positivity rate and containment index) into consideration. Countries may have their own approach to estimating excess deaths that may produce results that are different from those produced by the WHO.”

Where does India stand?

As per the WHO report, the cumulative excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic estimated for India is 47,40,894, which is more than nine times the official COVID-19 deaths (5,24,002) reported in India.

WHO Rejects Allegations Raised By India:

The World Health Organisation has rejected the allegations raised by India and its director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus termed its new report “sobering data ” that points to the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems. “These sobering data not only point to the impact of the pandemic but also to the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises, including stronger health information systems,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Science Doesn’t Lie; Modi Does”:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slams the government over a WHO report of 4.7 million “excess” Covid deaths. He said that “science does not lie, Prime Minister Narendra Modi does”. Rahul further demanded that the government should support the families that have lost loved ones by giving them the mandated Rs four lakh compensation. “47 lakh Indians died due to the Covid pandemic. NOT 4.8 lakh as claimed by the Govt. Science doesn’t LIE. Modi does” read his tweet today.