Official figures released on Friday by the Russian statistics agency indicate that at least 7,444 people died from the coronavirus in May, more than twice the number so far announced by the authorities.
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Russia has been criticized for months for its official figures on deaths caused by the coronavirus far lower than those of other European countries. If some suspect manipulations, the authorities assure that it is the result of a policy of massive screening and strong measures taken from the beginning of the epidemic.
3633 people died
According to figures released daily by the authorities, 3,633 people died of Covid-19 between May 2 and June 1. The Rosstat statistics agency, in particular responsible for providing demographic data, meanwhile reported on Friday a much higher number over the same period: 7444 people whose virus is considered " the main cause of death ".
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In addition, 5,008 others infected with the coronavirus died of other diseases, but for 1,530 of them the virus was the " catalyst " of their death, added Rosstat. According to the agency, the number of people dead in Russia from all causes rose to 172,914 in May, more than 18,000 more than the same month last year. Rosstat director Pavel Malkov said the death rate climbed 12% in May over a year ago.
Authorities said they expected a " significant increase " in mortality for the month of May. In the official Covid-19 death toll, Russia only lists deaths whose primary cause is the coronavirus, after autopsy, when other countries include almost all of the deaths of people who test positive. Russia had 713,936 cases of coronavirus contamination on Friday, of which 11,017 were fatal, according to official figures.
