Cremation numbers in #Ontario at peak of #COVID19 1st wave vs 2017-2019:
⬆️>30% deaths all ages
⬆️38% deaths in >75 age grp
⬆️89% deaths in longterm care homes
⬆️68% deaths at home
No significant change: hospitals deaths
Study monitors cremations as death indicator.
In ON ~70% of deaths cremated. No change in this rate from 2017-2019 to 2020.
So, increased cremations not due to increased cremation "popularity". Instead, likely related to excess mortality directly & indirectly due to #COVID19.