Deaths from Covid-19 (coronavirus): how are they counted and what do they show?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is the name given to the disease associated with the virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

This virus was unknown a few months ago, but now is having a profound effect on the lives of us all – most profoundly and tragically when it kills.

This Kings Fund article examines the methods being used to count deaths from Covid-19 and what the numbers show so far.

Note: The numbers of deaths from Covid-19 and deaths overall reported here are up to date as of 12 May 2020 but they are changing rapidly, and patterns could change as new data becomes available.