UK’s record on pandemic deaths
Veena Raleigh
Abstract
UK's record on pandemic deathsRecent changes in definition can't disguise the UK's poor international ranking Veena S Raleigh senior fellowThe grim daily count of covid-19 deaths in the UK is nearing single digits. 1 Although what's around the corner is unpredictable, it's timely to take stock after the recent tsunami of deaths.Evidence of the UK's higher overall death toll during the first wave of the pandemic relative to comparable countries is unequivocal.England had the highest excess all-cause mortality rate among 23 European countries in the first five months of 2020 compared with 2015-19, followed by Spain and Scotland, with mortality being spread throughout the country in contrast to the more localised patterns in Europe. 2 England also had the second (after Spain) highest peak of excess all-cause mortality and the slowest fall to normal levels-so the longest period of excess deaths.The contrasts with Norway, Finland, Denmark, Austria, and some eastern European countries, where no excess mortality was observed throughout 2020, are even sharper.