UK health chiefs change how they record Covid deaths trends now
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How Britain counts Covid deaths changed from today in another ushering in of post-pandemic life.
Only fatalities where the coronavirus was mentioned on a death certificate will now be included in the main toll.
It spells an end to using the method of counting anyone who died within 28 days of testing positive.
The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) overhaul will mean that the primary Covid death toll actually goes up by almost 4,000.
COVID DEATHS IN ENGLAND SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN: Only fatalities where the coronavirus was mentioned on a death certificate will now be included in the main toll. It spells an end to using the method of counting anyone who died within 28 days of testing positive
But thousands fewer Covid fatalities will recorded moving forward, experts predict.
An average of 142 occurred per day during the last full week of data in England with the 28-day positive test method. For comparison, 87 were logged in the same spell using the new one.
The UKHSA claimed the gap between the two tallies has been steadily growing over the past year.
It added the new method was a more 'reliable indicator' of the true situation 'at this stage in the pandemic'.
COVID DEATHS IN ENGLAND OVER THE PAST YEAR: An average of 142 occurred per day during the last full week of data in England with the 28-day positive test method. For comparison, 87 were logged in the same spell using the new one
COVID DEATHS IN ENGLAND OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS: The UKHSA claimed the gap between the two tallies has been steadily growing over the past year. It added the new method was a more 'reliable indicator' of the true situation 'at this stage in the pandemic'
