2.5 thousand COVID-19 deaths in February

In February, COVID-19 mortality was over 40 percent lower than in January, and also lower compared to November and December 2020.

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 in this news release are based on 97.1 percent of all cause-of-death certificates received in January 2021 and on 95.3 percent of those in February. CBS also 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.

COVID-19 mortality among long-term care users halved in February

In February 2021, there were 1,333 COVID-19 deaths among people receiving care under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz). This is 1,217 fewer than in January. Fifty-eight percent (15,560) of the 27,056 deaths caused by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and registered since March 2020 were people who had been receiving long-term care, such as in a nursing home. This share decreased in the second half of February, to 45 percent in week 8.

COVID-19 continued to be one of the main causes of death among long-term care recipients in February, accounting for 25 percent of mortality. In January, it was still 36 percent. This share also declined among the rest of the population, from 18 percent in January to 14 percent in February.

Downward trend in last weeks of January continued in February

During the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of COVID-19 deaths increased steadily, from 139 in week 39 (21 to 29 September 2020 inclusive) to 1,178 in week 53 (28 December 2020 to 3 January 2021 inclusive). In the latter week, 29 percent of all deaths were due to COVID-19. Subsequently, the weekly number of COVID-19 deaths declined, to 479 in the last week of February (15 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 other causes of death is stable. However, there was a decline in February 2021, just as in previous years. Mortality from cardiovascular diseases declined in particular, compared to last year. The decrease is not seen in the number of non-natural deaths. This winter, in contrast to previous years, there was no elevated mortality from mental disorders and diseases of the nervous system.

Data sources for CBS and RIVM

From 21 September 2020 to 28 February 2021 inclusive, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported 9,438 COVID-19 deaths based on data received from the municipal health services (GGD). In the same period, CBS registered 16,045 confirmed COVID-19 deaths based on cause-of-death certificates. In addition, there were 455 deaths from suspected COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death. Altogether, this is 16,500 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 (directly) reported as such to the GGD (partially because there is no reporting obligation for COVID-19 deaths). This 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.