This symbolic threshold was crossed on Monday, November 1. However, experts emphasize that this figure is far below the reality.
Nevertheless, Covid-19 has caused many deaths in a very short time.
And it could have been much more dramatic without the measures taken, first the restriction of movement and then the vaccination.
5,000,425 is the figure reported on Monday by the American Johns Hopkins University, which compiles data provided by health authorities from each country.*
The first cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly known as Covid-19, appeared in China at the end of 2019. Since then, this virus has spread globally.
Official figures, unofficial estimates
For numerous experts, this official figure is far from reality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of deaths related to Covid-19 could be two to three times higher than the official figures.
According to an estimate by The Economist, Covid-19 has caused about 17 million deaths.
Why such a discrepancy? Several factors explain the difference between official and unofficial figures.*
First, the data collection system. Generally, health authorities only consider hospital deaths. Then, there are cases of people who died in recent months without knowing if their death was caused by Covid-19. Finally, there are countries that, for political and/or economic reasons, deliberately downplay the mortality linked to Covid-19.
