Russian excess deaths over summer outstrip COVID toll by more than 3 to 1
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-mortality-idUSKBN2652CO
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The number of excess deaths in Russia between May and July was more than three times higher than the official coronavirus toll, recent government data show, a discrepancy some experts say raises questions about the accuracy of Moscows counting.
While Russia has confirmed the worlds fourth largest tally of coronavirus cases, it has a relatively low death toll from the associated disease, COVID-19.
Moscow says the way it classifies deaths is more accurate than other nations. Some Russian health officials have explained that in many cases, a patient who dies with COVID-19 does not necessarily die of it but from other causes including pre-existing health problems.
Tatiana Golikova, the head of Russias coronavirus crisis centre, told President Vladimir Putin in late July that Russias coronavirus mortality rate was significantly lower than in a range of other countries.
*snip*