Nearly 4.4 thousand COVID-19 deaths in January

CBS publishes mortality statistics on a weekly basis. The numbers are based on death records received by CBS on a daily basis from the municipalities. These records do not contain any information about the cause of death. Figures on causes of death are based on the cause-of-death certificates that are completed by an attending medical practitioner. CBS receives these certificates via the municipality where the death occurred. The figures presented today are based on 98.0 percent of all cause-of-death certificates received in 2020 and on 96.1 percent of those in January 2021. For more information: How CBS compiles mortality figures in corona times. The current figures are provisional. CBS will publish a broader overview of the causes of death of all deceased persons in 2020 at a later stage.

Over 2.5 thousand COVID-19 deaths among long-term care users in January

In January 2021, there were 2,535 COVID-19 deaths among people receiving care under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz). This is over 200 more than in December. Fifty-eight percent (14,190) of the 24,484 deaths caused by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and registered since March were people who had been receiving long-term care, such as in a nursing home.

COVID-19 continued to be one of the main causes of death among long-term care recipients in January, accounting for 36 percent of mortality. This was slightly lower in December, namely 33 percent. Among the rest of the population, the share rose from 16 percent in December to 18 percent in January.

Downward trend in last weeks of January

During the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of COVID-19 deaths increased steadily, from 139 in week 39 to 1,172 in week 53 (28 December to 3 January 2021 inclusive). In the latter week, 29 percent of the deaths were due to COVID-19. Subsequently, the weekly number of COVID-19 deaths declined, to 806 in the last week of January (22 percent of all deaths that week).

Gradual decline in mortality from other causes of death

The provisional figures from November 2020 through January 2021 show that mortality from several common causes of death is stable. The elevated mortality from respiratory diseases, mental disorders or diseases of the nervous system such as dementia in the winter period, a so-called seasonal peak, is not visible now. To a lesser extent, this also applies to mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

Data sources for CBS and RIVM

During the second pandemic wave (week 39 of 2020 through week 4 of 2021, 21 September 2020 to 31 January 2021 inclusive), the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported 7,957 COVID-19 deaths based on data received from the municipal health services (GGD). In the same period, CBS registered 13,538 confirmed COVID-19 deaths based on cause-of-death certificates. In addition, there were 399 deaths from suspected COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death. Altogether, this is 13,879 COVID-19 deaths.

There are several explanations for the discrepancies between CBS and RIVM figures. Firstly, there may have been cause-of-death forms carrying the indication COVID-19 as the cause of death based on the clinical picture, but not confirmed by laboratory testing. These deaths are not included in the RIVM figures. Secondly, deaths which were confirmed cases of COVID-19 and tested positive in the laboratory may not have been reported as such to the municipal health services (GGD) (partially because there is no reporting obligation for COVID-19 deaths), which also means they are not included in the RIVM figures. Furthermore, reported mortality figures over previous periods are still subject to revision, due to more data on COVID-19 deaths over earlier periods that are received by RIVM at a later stage. CBS will update the figures on causes of death when these data have also been processed.