Mortality lower than normal in week 20

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / ANP
The total number of deaths in week 20 (ending 17 May) is estimated at nearly 2,850. This is approximately 200 lower than the level that would normally be seen in this time of year. Weeks 11 through 19 were marked by excess mortality instead with almost 9 thousand more deaths than the expected mortality for that period. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on the basis of provisional weekly death counts.

The estimate for week 20 has been based on the number of death certificates CBS has received for that week up to and including Wednesday 20 May. Expected mortality has been estimated on the basis of mortality as recorded over the previous weeks, adjusted for seasonal effects. Had there not been a COVID-19 pandemic, week 20 would have an estimated 3,046 deaths.
Up to and including week 10 (ending 8 March) of this year, average mortality stood at 3,134 per week. It subsequently rose to reach its highest level in week 14 with 5,079 deaths.

Undermortality in week 20

It is a commonly known fact that periods of elevated mortality are often followed by periods of low mortality. This was also the case in 2018, when the elevated mortality during the influenza epidemic was followed by approximately six weeks of lower mortality.
However, the low mortality level in week 20 does not mean that there were no deaths related to COVID-19. In week 20, the number of deaths from COVID-19 as reported to RIVM (as at Thursday, 21 May 2020) stood at 159. The final number may turn out even higher, as not all COVID-19 patients are tested.

Deaths registered weekly
 201720182019*2020*2020 (expectation)
13568334330643100
23637335932613364
33487336431533152
43626332231793041
53574340331443159
63446351331853191
73417366032533197
83328369132232957
93152393730663091
103054409231723098
1128433733322832153049
1227783430304336093090
1328503225301444493111
1427643040290050793111
1528102860290149712906
1627132760304042883006
1727782663295938912922
1827692645280833652975
1928022641277329562930
2028012606282128333046
21277226742873
22270127762732
23262426792736
24264325572649
25262726012694
26269126192836
27269727262726
28252026712762
29267427042585
30257127673007
31251027602732
32265727452629
33254026052612
34254526122616
35257625272785
36257026132556
37270725392643
38271527062582
39266926962753
40264128062717
41276327602912
42270627392879
43267626712869
44272628152856
45279727983016
46291627613062
47291728593025
48288629073041
49302729683016
50321830173164
51307930413247
52318729013019
* provisional figures 2020*: latest weekly figure is an estimate.

Lower mortality among over-80s and women in particular

Overall mortality has declined in all age groups as of week 14. In week 20, mortality was at a slightly lower level than what would normally be expected for this time of year. Mortality was even 9 percent lower than usual among people under the age of 80.

The decline set in as of week 14 for men and as of week 15 for women. No further decline was recorded among men in week 20; the drop did continue among the female population. Among men, week 20 mortality was 3 percent below the expected level, against 11 percent among women.

Elevated mortality since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

The increase in mortality coincides with the beginning of the epidemic in the Netherlands. The first confirmed COVID-19 patient in the Netherlands was reported on 27 February 2020. The first death involving COVID-19 was reported on 6 March 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.

Data sources for CBS and RIVM

CBS receives mortality data on a daily basis from municipal registers. This is before it receives any information on the causes of these deaths. CBS receives such information by way of the death cause certificates which are completed by the physician who attended the deceased. The publication of data from death cause certificates is normally scheduled for Q3 2020, but CBS will make every effort to release this information at an earlier stage.
RIVM receives data on confirmed COVID-19 deaths from municipal health services (GGD) around the country on a daily basis. Since not all COVID-19 patients are tested, the actual number of COVID-19-related deaths in the Netherlands is expected to turn out higher. A more complete picture emerges by looking at the total weekly number of deaths as based on the data received by CBS, regardless of the cause of death.

Estimates based on death certificates received so far

In general, some time elapses between the actual date of death and the moment when this data reaches CBS. Death certificates are collected weekly on Thursdays. Usually, mortality data collected on Thursday include slightly over 80 percent of all deaths over the previous week. This information provides an indication of the number of deaths that can be expected for that week.
Based on the data obtained over weeks 12 through 19, death certificates are currently being received sooner than usual (as the number of certificates that was received after one week turned out to cover 85 percent of all deaths) with the exception of weeks with public holidays. The estimate for week 20 is based on the assumption that for this week as well, 85 percent has been received. As the percentage is uncertain, the actual number of deaths in week 20 may be higher or lower as a result.