Fact Check: COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths worldwide since its emergence.

Fact Check: "COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths worldwide since its emergence."

What We Know

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a profound impact on global health since its emergence in late 2019. As of October 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there have been over 6.9 million confirmed deaths attributed to COVID-19 worldwide. This figure is derived from data collected through official communications and monitoring of health ministry reports across various countries.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides provisional counts of COVID-19 deaths, which are based on mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). According to the CDC, these counts indicate that COVID-19 has been a significant cause of mortality, contributing to millions of deaths since the pandemic began (CDC COVID Data Tracker). The provisional data are subject to revisions as more death records are processed, but they consistently show a high number of fatalities attributed to the virus.

Analysis

The claim that COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths is supported by multiple reputable sources. The WHO's COVID-19 dashboard indicates a cumulative total of over 6.9 million deaths globally, which is a significant number that underscores the pandemic's severity (WHO COVID-19 dashboard).

The CDC's provisional mortality data also corroborates this claim, showing that COVID-19 has been a leading cause of death in the United States, with millions of deaths recorded since the onset of the pandemic (Provisional COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance). The data collection process is thorough, involving coding of death certificates according to international standards, which enhances the reliability of the reported figures.

However, it is important to note that the numbers may be underreported due to delays in data processing and the inherent challenges in tracking mortality accurately during a pandemic. The CDC acknowledges that provisional counts can be incomplete, especially for recent weeks, but they also indicate that the data are generally at least 94% complete within eight weeks of the occurrence of death (Provisional COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance).

Overall, both the WHO and CDC are credible sources, and their data is regularly updated and subject to rigorous verification processes. The consistency of the reported figures across these organizations lends strong support to the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths worldwide since its emergence is substantiated by credible data from both the WHO and the CDC. The reported figures indicate that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on global health, resulting in over 6.9 million confirmed deaths. While there may be some underreporting, the overall consensus among health organizations is that COVID-19 has indeed led to millions of fatalities.

Fact Check: COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths worldwide since its emergence.