**Update on "Excess Deaths" in Pakistan**
June 2020 saw significantly higher burials in Karachi govt graveyards than any other month in the past two years
The rise is likely due to some undetected Covid deaths & people not getting treated for other diseases
Data ⬇️
@uszahid
June 2020 saw significantly higher burials in Karachi govt graveyards than any other month in the past two years
The rise is likely due to some undetected Covid deaths & people not getting treated for other diseases
Data ⬇️
@uszahid
Burials:
June '18: 1,767
June '19: 2,375
June '20: 3,594
One imp caveat - there were only a small number of officially recorded Covid burials (118) in these Karachi graveyards in June, far fewer than the total number of official Covid deaths (around 800)
June '18: 1,767
June '19: 2,375
June '20: 3,594
One imp caveat - there were only a small number of officially recorded Covid burials (118) in these Karachi graveyards in June, far fewer than the total number of official Covid deaths (around 800)
So some of the "excess burials" will also be of patients who were officially recorded as dying from Covid, but whose families hid the death certificates from graveyard officials
We were told that does happen at times
We were told that does happen at times
Credit to officials in Karachi for being so helpful and transparent about this important data... Other cities have been trickier
Without understanding mortality figures - we cannot really know what the impact of the pandemic is
Without understanding mortality figures - we cannot really know what the impact of the pandemic is
So far, it seems there may also be higher than expected burials in Khi in July too - but possibly by a lesser degree
For Lahore, we only have new data from Miani Sahib graveyard - which suggests after a huge spike in June, a more "normal" level of burials are now taking place
For Lahore, we only have new data from Miani Sahib graveyard - which suggests after a huge spike in June, a more "normal" level of burials are now taking place
In Miani Sahib:
June '19: 696
June '20: 1176
July '19: 586
1st - 15th *only* July '20: 347
Of course, need to wait until the end of July for total numbers
June '19: 696
June '20: 1176
July '19: 586
1st - 15th *only* July '20: 347
Of course, need to wait until the end of July for total numbers
This fits with what doctors in Lahore have been telling me - that they have seen a marked drop in hospital admissions in recent weeks... reasons aren't clear, could be more people being cautious, or the "smart lockdown" having an impact
Though Eid could see a new spike
Though Eid could see a new spike
We need more mortality data in Lahore to know definitely whether the drop in hospital admissions is also being matched by a drop in deaths / burials... And we need similar figures for elsewhere - then we can make a more accurate assessment of the impact of Covid
See previous thread for more details on a big rise in registered deaths in Lahore comparing this June to last June:
