key: cord-0722232-3yqq5ljk
authors: Mungmunpuntipantip, Rujittika; Wiwanitkit, Viroj
title: Underreporting of COVID-19 deaths
date: 2021-05-03
journal: J Formos Med Assoc
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2021.04.019
sha: 8f6d9a8a659b8a3febfbaf9e6afda660bd041868
doc_id: 722232
cord_uid: 3yqq5ljk

nan

Dear Editor, we would like to share ideas on the report "No evidence of substantial underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in Taiwan during 2020 [1] ." Chen et al. noted that "It is important to continue monitoring monthly/weekly excess and cause-specific mortality as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses [1] ." We agree that it is important to assess underreporting of COVID-19 deaths. The modelling technique proposed by Chen et al. might be helpful for similar assessment in other settings. However, we would like to point out some important facts. First, if there is no COVID-19 test for all deaths, the missed diagnosis of asymptomatic or undiagnosed COVID-19 is possible. Indeed, the problem of lack of COVID-19 test in forensic examination has been raised since early outbreak of disease [2] . Second, the chance of false negative remains in case that there is a post mortem COVID-19 test. It is necessary to account for effect of false negative in assessment of possible Underreporting of COVID-19 deaths. Additionally, a case with a confirmed cause of death might have a hidden COVID-19.

None

No evidence of substantial underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in Taiwan during 2020

COVID-19 in forensic medicine unit personnel: Observation from Thailand