COVID-19: Discrepancies Show Under-reporting of Deaths, Mortality May Be Much Higher than Official Figure in TN

A directorate of public health verification (DPH) at the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) death registry has exposed discrepancies in the number of COVID-19 deaths. As per the verification, at least 236 more deaths are registered in the GCC compared to the 224 announced till June 8. The total tally of the deaths in the GCC alone would go up to 460. The Arappor Iyakkam, an NGO working for citizens’ rights, has pointed out three specific deaths which were missing from the official bulletin.

The mortality rate as claimed by the government gets at least doubled, if the identified cases are included. The death of 20 individuals in the Railway Hospital, Perambur is also missing from the official list of COVID-19 deaths.

Experts in public health have called for a detailed enquiry into the missing deaths cases amid growing discrepancies.

One major claim of the state government was that of the low mortality rate in the state. Even as the SARS-CoV-2 infection has claimed 307 deaths in the state at a rate of 0.8% mortality, much less than the national average. But, the differences in numbers are cropping up exposing the under reporting of the deaths.

The Times of India has reported that a committee has been constituted to analyse and streamline the number of COVID-19 deaths with regard to the Chennai corporation.

Dr T Sundararaman of the Peoples’ Health Movement while speaking to NewsClick said, “The low mortality rate is more of a concern rather than a reason for celebration. It simply means that we are missing out on a lot of deaths, a minimum of two thirds, which calls for a thorough investigation.”

Recently, a case was filed against TV news reader and theatre personality Varadharajen for circulating a video on lack of beds for COVID-19 treatment. He, in another video released later, praised the performance of the state government. Many other individuals also have taken up the issue on social media platforms, while the government continues to be in denial mode.

“Many people are being turned away from hospitals, dying at homes and discharged prematurely from hospitals. Even worse is, sick people do not manage to get admitted in hospitals. Many people die even without being tested. So, the low mortality rate claimed by the government should be addressed with concern. We need to have a death review at the earliest,” added Dr Sundararaman.

Also read: COVID-19: Tamil Nadu’s Witnesses Reduced Doubling Time, Government Claims Victory for High Recovery Rate and Low Mortality

The Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO,in a letter addressed to the health secretary demanded immediate action on non-reporting/under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths. The organisation pointed out three deaths, two in Stanley Medical College Hospital, Chennai and one in Raja Muthiah Medical College Hospital, Cuddalore, being not reported.

As per the organisation, the three deaths are yet to be notified in the daily bulletin. The anti-corruption organisation has called for transparency in announcing the number of deaths to build trust among the people.

The New Indian Express also reported on four deaths, which were missing from the state bulletin. Deaths of two men aged 41 and 76 years in Washarmanpet and Ambattur in Chennai, a 72-year-old woman in Madurai and a 63-year-old man hailing from Chennai who passed away in Tirunelveli are yet to figure in the bulletin even after several days.

In another incident, around 20 deaths in the Southern Railways Hospital in Perambur had not been included in the state tally.

Dr G R Raveendranath of the Doctors Association for Social Equality said, “There is still uncertainty over the deaths in the railway hospital. There are contradicting statements from the railway hospital and the health department on the communication between the two. The hospital authorities have claimed that they have conveyed the deaths to the GCC, while the director of public health has sent a notice to the hospital asking for an explanation.”

In other parts of the state, the deaths are under-reported including in Kanyakumari district. Three deaths during the month of March in the COVID-19 wards were excluded from the list of official counts.The cause for the deaths were not disclosed and were reportedly modified.

Uncertainty over communications within the Chennai corporation itself calls for a detailed investigation on the number of deaths in other parts of the state as well. The government, in order to hide its failures in containment measures which has in turn led to a huge surge in cases, is acting rigid on the mortality rates.