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In a study published Friday, researchers at the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimate that the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 is almost double the official number in the US and more than twice as high as the reported worldwide tally.

Using data from May 3, 2021, the report says the number of reported COVID-19 deaths in the US was 574,043. The authors claim that the number was actually much higher, at 905,289 deaths. The researchers also said that COVID-19 deaths are significantly underreported in other countries as well, bringing the global total to about 6.9 million, more than double the official estimate.

“As terrible as the COVID-19 pandemic appears, this analysis shows that the actual toll is significantly worse,” Dr. Chris Murray, IHME’s director, said in the institute’s report.

The numbers are skewed for many reasons, IHME says, including missing deaths that occurred outside of a hospital and those that exclude patients with an unconfirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. An additional factor, researchers point out, is an overwhelmed healthcare system which leads to weaker reporting. The number of deaths in some countries, including Japan and Egypt, may be more than “ten times” the reported toll, NPR reported.

Researchers in the study came to their conclusion by examining “all-cause mortality,” death by other causes that were affected by the lack of medical resources due to COVID-19, and “excess mortality,” deaths that can’t be accounted for.

Not everyone agrees with the higher number of COVID-19 deaths. NPR reported that Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University said there are a lot of “assumptions and educated guesses” in the study.

As of May 6, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 577,041 deaths in the US from COVID-19. The WHO reported 3,250,648 people worldwide have died from COVID-19.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.