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Figures issued by Britain's official statistics agency revealed Tuesday that the real death toll from the novel coronavirus is higher than figures previously announced by the government due to different reporting methods and timings.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) study showed the death toll of the COVID-19 outbreak in England and Wales, based on death certificates, could be 24 percent higher than the number released by the National Health Service (NHS).
People who had COVID-19 mentioned on death certificates totaled 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, 40 more than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time slot, said the ONS.
"ONS figures are based on deaths officially registered in the stated time frame. The GOV.UK figures are based on deaths occurring and reported, among hospital patients who have tested positive for COVID-19," the ONS study said.
"There is usually a delay of at least five days between occurrence and registration," it said.
The ONS said its figures also take into account of people who have died at home and in care homes, outside the NHS hospital system where most deaths have occurred.
"Using the complete death certificate allows us to analyse a lot of information, such as what other health conditions contributed to the death," said Sarah Caul, head of mortality analysis at the ONS.
As of Monday afternoon, 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, up 381 over the same time on the previous day, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
