COVID caused 9% of deaths

New Delhi, May 26: Heart diseases, pneumonia and asthma together claimed the highest number of lives — over 42 per cent — of the total 18,11,688 medically certified deaths registered in the country in 2020.
However, the total number of registered deaths in the country was 81,15,882.
According to the ‘Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death 2020’, prepared by India’s Registrar General and Census Commissioner, COVID-19, which hit the country in that year, claimed nearly nine per cent of the lives — 1,60,618 people.
While diseases of circulatory system claimed 32.1 per cent lives, respiratory system related diseases were responsible for 10 per cent deaths.
Those who died due to diseases of pulmonary circulation and other forms of heart diseases and ischemic heart diseases were categorised as deaths due to ‘diseases of circulatory system’.
Deaths from pneumonia, asthma, and related diseases were termed as deaths due to the ‘diseases of respiratory system’.
The third leading group, constituting 8.9 per cent of the total medically certified deaths, was classified under the ‘Codes for special purposes: COVID-19’. (PTI)