Covid-19 deaths overstated 3.6-fold in the U.K.?

Data gathered on 1.6 million public sector workers in the UK suggests that the number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK are overstated 3.6-fold according a very interesting article on the website UK Column.

Rather than the UK having roughly 48,000 Covid-19 deaths, the data suggests that the number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK should be less than 14,000.

The article notes that the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) claims that the age-standardised mortality rate for Covid-19 in the UK, among the under 65’s, is 16.6 per 100,000 people.

But data gathered by a guy named Mark Oakford on 1.6 million public sector workers shows age-standardised mortality rate for Covid-19 for this age group is only 4.6 per 100,000 people — 3.6 times lower than what the UK government is claiming.

The article says:

“This strongly suggests that, of the 48,158 reported deaths ‘due’ to Covid-19, the real number is closer to 13,759. A discrepancy of 34,399.”

To say this another way, this data suggests that Covid-19 deaths in the UK has been overstated by the UK government 3.6-fold.

Here are highlights from the article:

According to the ONS [Office of National Statistics], for the year up to the end of August, the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for Covid-19 in England, among the under 65’s, was 16.6 per 100,000 people.
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[But Mark Oakford]… has gathered data on more than 1.6 million public sector workers across the UK… [by submitting] 1,392 freedom of information requests [to various UK government agencies]...
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The ONS [Office of National Statistics] claim that approximately 6,092 people, of working age in England, have died from Covid-19 so far this year. For this age distribution, the chances of you dying from Covid-19 is allegedly 0.0166%. But only if you accept the government’s claims.

To date, Mark’s research of more than 1.6 million UK workers, casts significant doubt over the government figures: for 1,641,281 UK workers the total number of deaths [from Covid-19] reported was 76.
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Mark’s research reveals an [age-standardised mortality rate] ASMR of 4.6 per 100,000 [for 1.6 million UK workers]; somewhat less than the 16.6 per 100,000 reported by ONS [Office of National Statistics].

The average percentage chance of Covid-19 mortality for the working population is 0.0046%. This is three and half times lower than the official ONS ASMR [age-standardised mortality rate] implies.

This strongly suggests that, of the 48,158 reported deaths “due” to Covid-19, the real number is closer to 13,759. A discrepancy of 34,399. A figure which has been mentioned before.
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Mark Oakford’s research demonstrates that there is something seriously amiss with the statistical reporting of Covid-19 statistics. There is very little reason to put much faith in official reports of Covid-19 mortality.

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Coronavirus COVID-19