Why didn't WHO state how Covid deaths should be recorded?

[waltzingparrot]

Just that really.

Surely, they could have set the rules to how countries reported their Corona death numbers.

Seems so much discrepancy around the world. It would have helped with trends etc if WHO told everyone how to do it for meaningful data.

It would be impossible. Even people with money don't opt for autopsies, in countries across Africa and other Muslim countries. Every person dying would have to be given an autopsy and be seen by a doctor. Even in the developed countries, there wasn't the medical staff available. Bodies would have to be carried in the heat to hospitals etc, giving rise to more infections.

It would be unfair on the countries that have large migrant/refugee numbers.

I don't see the reasoning behind it and it would waste resources.

I've got friends from Nigeria. Since Covid has been happening, they've lost friends, from buildings collapsing, childbirth, gas explosions, malaria and the usual stuff. Countries stil have 'bush/rural' people, who no-one knows about.

On a global scale, how would that work?

Plus a lot of the aid/charity workers were told that they had to repatriate, which caused further issues. There's been outbreaks of other diseases, the Congo has had a measles crisis on top of Elboa. A part of Nigeria had a monkey pox outbreak. There's been lots of more deadly diseases. Covid is nothing to some regions of the world.

I think they do.

www.who.int/classifications/icd/Guidelines_Cause_of_Death_COVID-19.pdf?ua=1

" A death due to COVID-19 is defined for surveillance purposes as a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness, in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID disease (e.g. trauma). There should be no period of complete recovery from COVID-19 between illness and death.

A death due to COVID-19 may no"t be attributed to another disease (e.g. cancer) and should be counted independently of preexisting conditions that are suspected of triggering a severe course of COVID-19. "

I think the pertinent sentence is There should be no period of complete recovery from COVID-19 between illness and death.

Of course that doesn't mean every country will abide by this, or is able to, or that in the long term its the way to do it. But I think it was the initial advice.

WHO are an advisory body. Whatever they say it's up to governments what happens.