After WHO estimates 4.7 million Covid-19 deaths in India, Delhi Health minister says no virus death in capital has gone uncounted

No Covid death in the national capital has gone uncounted, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday, a day after the World Health Organisation estimated that there were 4.7 million (47 lakh) deaths from the virus in India. Covid death data given by the national capital to the Centre is completely authentic and correct, Jain, who is here to attend a Swasthya Chintan Shivir organised by the Union Health Ministry, said.

“I cannot comment on the data for the entire country or other states but no Covid death in the national capital has gone uncounted,” Jain said. “We have counted neither one death more or one death less. Delhi is the capital city of the country and is it possible that someone dies of Covid here and doesn’t get a death certificate?” he asked. Jain went on to say that there has been 100 per cent transparency in data collection and in the counting of mortality figures.

According to the WHO report, there were 4.7 million Covid deaths in India — 10 times the official figure and almost a third of Covid deaths globally. It estimated that nearly 15 million people were killed either by the coronavirus or by its impact on overwhelmed health systems in the past two years, more than double the official death toll of six million. Most of the fatalities were in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.