WHO confirms COVID-19 death rate higher than previously thought

The World Health Organization announced Tuesday that COVID-19 could be more deadly than previously thought. The WHO reported the disease''s global mortality rate as 3.4%, higher than the earlier estimate of 2%. New data also shows that the coronavirus is eight times more lethal for people with diabetes. Instead of a handshake, try a footshake -- a safer alternative amid COVID-19. As the disease spreads across the world, epidemic prevention measures are proliferating. A WHO director has endorsed a range of creative handshake alternatives, including waving or bumping elbows. France’s health minister calls on its citizens to avoid close contact and stop cheek kissing others as a greeting. Voice of Sanjay GuptaCNN news presenterA cough, a sneeze, a handshake could cause an exposure.The NBA has sent a memo advising players to avoid high-fives with fans and to not borrow items like pens when signing autographs. “Keeping a distance and staying safe” has become a mantra repeated by many countries’ governments. A new report from the WHO says COVID-19 could be more lethal than previously thought. With a death rate of 3.4% worldwide, the disease is 30 times higher than for seasonal flu.Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHO director-generalCOVID-19 causes more severe disease than seasonal influenza.Huang Li-minThe Infectious Diseases Society of TaiwanCOVID-19’s severity rate and death rate are higher than the seasonal flu’s. That’s the current belief. But a question mark still hangs over whether COVID-19’s death rate is 3%. Because that 3% doesn’t take into account many people with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If you factor all of those in, it probably wouldn’t reach 3%.The health expert says COVID-19’s actual mortality rate may not be so high. Meanwhile, February data on China’s 70,000 COVID-19 patients shows that 10% of the people with preexisting heart and circulatory conditions died from the disease. People with diabetes had the second-highest death rate, of 7.3%. That’s 8.11 times higher than the rate for people with no preexisting conditions.Huang Li-minThe Infectious Diseases Society of TaiwanPeople with diabetes tend not to have a good immune system. Their blood sugar is too high and they don’t have a strong immune response. Actually, they have to be careful with any kind of infection. If they get any infection, their death rate is two to three times higher than for others. Reports in other countries indicate that for diabetics, the COVID-19 mortality rate can be seven or eight times higher. That’s not beyond the realm of possibility.Health experts say that vulnerable groups like the elderly, or people with heart conditions, should pay special attention to protecting themselves against infection.