How does the corona virus affect mortality? That is the crucial question this spring. Because the official death statistics are too slow, people use data from the registry offices.
Wiesbaden (dpa) - According to the Federal Statistical Office, a comparatively large number of people have died in Germany since the last week in March. Since then, the death rate has "tended" to be above the average of the past five years, the office in Wiesbaden said.
"Since the flu wave 2020 has been over since mid-March, it is obvious that these comparatively high values are related to the corona pandemic."
For the more recent data, the statisticians use the death reports from the registry offices. Preliminary data are currently available until April 5.
Large fluctuations in death statistics are normal in winter. This is due to the flu, which varies in severity. For example, around 86,400 people died in March 2019, and 107,100 in March 2018 - when the flu was particularly severe. "Even without a corona pandemic, the number of deaths can fluctuate greatly in the typical flu period," say the statisticians.
Now the flu wave was rather weak in 2020. According to the preliminary count, around 85,000 people died in January 2020 and 79,400 in February. According to the Federal Office, there was no noticeable increase overall in March 2020 with at least 85,900 deaths. "Since the last week of March, however, the daily figures have tended to be above the average for the years 2016 to 2019," it said on Thursday. Usually the death toll tended to decrease this time of year.
Notification of deaths
Table also with country numbers