There have been 178,000 excess deaths
in Italy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Higher
Health Institute (ISS) and stats agency ISTAT said Wednesday.
Much of the excess death rate was in 2021 when vaccine coverage
was still low, they said.
Some 72% of the excess deaths last year regarded the over 80s,
they said.
In 90% of cases COVID was cited as a direct cause of death.
Some 42% of COVID cases diagnosed in Italy were in January of
this year, the report said, when the Omicron variant was running
riot.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
