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Some confusion over the HIQA and CSO data showing the Irish covid death toll is likely overstated.
In plain terms, we follow WHO guidelines.
The oldest death with covid19 in Ireland was 105-years-old, which wouldn't be counted as covid19 in most other places.
It should.
In plain terms, we follow WHO guidelines.
The oldest death with covid19 in Ireland was 105-years-old, which wouldn't be counted as covid19 in most other places.
It should.
Russia, and other parts of Europe, conduct postmortems on every covid death.
This is the opposite of what WHO asked countries to do.
It's one reason that 105-year-old would never make a Russian list, because the comorbidities involved (or simply old age) would be cited.
This is the opposite of what WHO asked countries to do.
It's one reason that 105-year-old would never make a Russian list, because the comorbidities involved (or simply old age) would be cited.
If Ireland followed the Russian methodology, our topline covid death number would plummet from 1,740 to around 250.
We would be removing the ~700 deaths with chronic heart disease, removing the ~300 cancer deaths etc and we'd end up around 250 dead.
It's convenient.
We would be removing the ~700 deaths with chronic heart disease, removing the ~300 cancer deaths etc and we'd end up around 250 dead.
It's convenient.
One clear problem with the Russian methodology, is that if you applied it to Ireland, we would have 250 covid deaths yet an excess of 1,200.
So we'd be left with 950 unaccounted-for deaths.
That's the scenario dozens of countries are in, with massive unaccounted excess deaths.
So we'd be left with 950 unaccounted-for deaths.
That's the scenario dozens of countries are in, with massive unaccounted excess deaths.
I can only imagine Twitter if Ireland followed much of Europe in counting conveniently, to be left with 950 unaccounted-for deaths.
The word "scandal" would be thrown around for fun, and yet the same people don't get outraged that Portugal has nearly 2,000 unaccounted-for.
The word "scandal" would be thrown around for fun, and yet the same people don't get outraged that Portugal has nearly 2,000 unaccounted-for.
This is a very Irish paradox:
If you follow WHO guidelines correctly (as Ireland did), you can be left with more covid deaths than actually happened and people call it a scandal.
If you don't follow them, you're undercounting by hundreds and people call it a scandal.
If you follow WHO guidelines correctly (as Ireland did), you can be left with more covid deaths than actually happened and people call it a scandal.
If you don't follow them, you're undercounting by hundreds and people call it a scandal.
The question HIQA and CSO will want answered is:
"How many extra deaths did the pandemic cause?"
That answer is 1,200.
But that is *not* the question the public should want answered - that stuff is for the experts to know, in order to shape future pandemic response policy.
"How many extra deaths did the pandemic cause?"
That answer is 1,200.
But that is *not* the question the public should want answered - that stuff is for the experts to know, in order to shape future pandemic response policy.
Whether they died with or of covid should be inconsequential to the public.
How many deaths away from family and friends did the pandemic cause?
1,740.
Every positive or suspected case of covid died a manner of death they wouldn't have otherwise.
How many deaths away from family and friends did the pandemic cause?
1,740.
Every positive or suspected case of covid died a manner of death they wouldn't have otherwise.
Our overstated death toll makes us look bad when the reality is a lot better, sure.
But we know in Ireland that 1,740 of our Irish family died alone.
I'd much rather know that, than to have their lonely deaths hidden in a pile of excess death statistics.
They all mattered.
But we know in Ireland that 1,740 of our Irish family died alone.
I'd much rather know that, than to have their lonely deaths hidden in a pile of excess death statistics.
They all mattered.
