Connect with us

World News

Covid-19 deaths much higher than official figures, claims report

Published

3 years ago

on

Covid-19 deaths much higher than official figures, claims report

Official figures show that more than 55 million people have lost their lives to the viral disease since the Covid-19 pandemic began in late 2019. But a new study published in the journal Nature claims the actual toll could be many times higher.

There has been debate over whether countries hide their actual Covid-19 death tolls to protect their image on global platforms.

The report, published in the journal Nature, considered machine learning methods used by The Economist in London. It found some problems with data collection and claimed that the actual death toll could be double and quadruple the official Covid-19 figure.

The Nature report cites examples of how countries around the world are reporting Covid-19 victims. In the Netherlands, the government, in the early stages of the pandemic, counted only those patients who died in hospital after being infected, it said.

Advertisement

Belgium, on the other hand, included deaths from severe colds and Covid-19 without testing patients, the report said. Death tolls remain high in rich countries while low in poor countries, the report said. But it further said that an analysis of the World Mortality Dataset (WMD) of 116 countries showed poorer countries had fewer deaths.

According to data modelling, the actual Covid-19 death toll in wealthy countries could be as high as a third of current figures. Meanwhile, in poor countries, the actual death toll could be 20 times higher than current figures.

The WHO may soon release its first assessment of the death toll, the report said. The opinion of several experts concluded that in order to estimate the actual number of Covid-19 deaths, it is necessary to compare the number of deaths that occurred in the five years before the pandemic with the current period.

The report also noted that the Covid-19 pandemic was the largest since the Spanish flu that spread between 1918-20.

Advertisement

According to the WMD model, more than 300,000 patients in Russia have died from Covid-19 by the end of 2021. However, the excess death toll could exceed 1 million during this period.

Over 100 countries, including China, India and several countries in Africa, lack estimates of excess deaths from weapons of mass destruction. Nature reports that this is due to their government not collecting death data or publishing death data quickly.

However, these countries have also killed millions of people due to Covid-19.

India was hit hard by last year’s second wave of Covid-19, with more than 487,000 deaths reported since the pandemic began. However, the above-mentioned model used by The Economist estimates about 5 million deaths in the country.

Advertisement

Likewise, in China, the epicenter of Covid-19, the Economist’s model estimates more than 750,000 deaths in total, 150 times the official figure of 4,600.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

health and remedies

Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Published

1 day ago

on

November 21, 2024

By

Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Taking regular breaks from intense training, like deload weeks, helps your body recover, preventing fatigue and injury, and ultimately boosts fitness gains.

When it comes to getting fit, the idea of spending hours at the gym might come to mind, but many fitness experts argue that taking a “deload week” every six to eight weeks is actually key to improving your fitness gains. A deload week involves reducing the intensity of workouts to allow the body to recover from the fatigue and muscle damage caused by intense training.

While high-intensity training helps build strength and fitness, it can also lead to muscle strain, and without adequate recovery, these gains can’t fully materialise. Deload weeks give the body much-needed rest to repair and rebuild, ensuring continued progress. (Also read: Bhagyashree swears by this super easy exercise for instant leg pain relief and better mobility. Watch how to do it )

Why recovery is key for muscle growth

According to an article by The Conversation, intense exercise can cause tiny tears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation that requires rest or low-intensity exercise to heal. This inflammation is essential for muscle growth and fitness improvements. However, without proper recovery, muscles remain in a state of slight damage, preventing inflammation from resolving. This chronic state of inflammation can hinder muscle function, reducing oxygen efficiency and impairing performance. Giving muscles time to recover through rest ensures they repair properly and are primed for continued progress, setting us up for greater success in our fitness journey.

Advertisement

Many gymgoers fear taking time off and are worried it will lead to a loss of gains. However, research shows that muscle genes have a “memory imprint,” which keeps them in a semi-prepared state. This allows muscles to respond more quickly and effectively to future training, promoting growth after a rest period. Even after extended periods of reduced intensity, up to seven weeks, muscular fitness can be restored to prime condition—and in some cases, surpass previous levels. Interestingly, recovery can occur twice as fast as it took to reach peak fitness initially, even if some strength is lost.

Taking time off from intense training is crucial to prevent muscle soreness and avoid overtraining syndrome. Overtraining occurs when the body doesn’t get enough rest, leading to prolonged fatigue, decreased performance, and mood disturbances. Symptoms develop gradually, making overtraining difficult to recognize until it’s severe. Rest is essential to avoid these issues and ensure long-term progress in training.

Role of overtraining syndrome and deload weeks

Overtraining syndrome is challenging to quantify due to its vague symptoms. Studies suggest it may affect as few as 10% of elite athletes, though rates could climb to 60% among highly competitive individuals. Recovery is essential for both fitness and overall health. When engaging in heavy gym routines, it’s vital to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your workout plan. Unlike rest days, which involve little to no exercise once or twice a week, deload weeks feature lighter training at reduced intensity—typically about 50% fewer workouts or a 20% drop in workout intensity.

Both rest days and deload weeks are essential for recovery and crucial to improving fitness. It’s not about choosing one over the other—they complement each other. For instance, intense training for marathons, Ironman, or CrossFit competitions requires weekly rest days alongside scheduled deload weeks. However, for recreational gym-goers exercising 1–3 times weekly at a moderate intensity, the recovery from this routine is often sufficient without the need for additional deload weeks.

Advertisement

Fitness influencers recommend incorporating deload weeks into training schedules every 4–8 weeks, aligning closely with the expert advice of 4–6 weeks. However, it’s crucial to listen to your body and schedule deload weeks as needed. If your performance plateaus or worsens, it may signal time for a deload. Training plans should be flexible enough to allow rest when required. Deload weeks not only enhance performance but also support overall health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in      
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Anyskill-ads

Facebook

Trending