Covid: Real death toll could be 3 times higher than reported, says WHO

Death tolls likely a 'significant undercount', says WHO; at least 6-8 mn people may have died, says WHO expert

Official death tolls from the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be a "significant undercount", the World Health Organization said on Friday, estimating that the true figure of direct and indirect deaths could be two to three times higher.

Presenting its annual World Health Statistics report, the WHO estimated that total deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 were at least 3 million or 1.2 million more than 1.8 million figure officially reported.

"We are likely facing a significant undercount of total deaths directly and indirectly attributed to COVID-19," the U.N.

agency said.

By May 20 2021, WHO statistics showed around 3.4