What are the deaths from seasonal flu and pneumonia?

[Thedarksideofthemoon30]

Just that really, or are they counting those as Covid too?

Flu season not till December and they are published as separate lines on a report

My brother's MIL died of pneumonia last week - no mention of covid around her death

O the tactics used to minimise COVID.
On Facebook there was a report of a serious outbreak in a care home and people were saying they must have has a flu jab.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending23october2020

They are counted separately. More people died as a DIRECT result of Covid than as a DIRECT result of flu and pneumonia. But more people died WITH pneumonia and flu than died WITH Covid, if that makes sense.

Sorry I meant to say “during the week commencing 23rd Oct” which is the latest from the ONS. We won’t know overall until flu season is over and ONS publishes full data next year.

Bear in mind that flu will be much much less this year anyway. Social distancing (among those who adhere to it) reduced travel will all see flu plummet. I believe that Australia had really low flu rates this year.

For context, at the press conference today the NHS guy said there are currently 11,000 people in hospital with Covid, whereas in a typical winter the peak bed occupancy from flu would be about 3,000. There would normally be around 7,000 people in hospital beds being treated for cancer at any one time.

Govt is desperate to downplay covid and what's happening in northern hospitals right now. Absolutely disgraceful.

I had a really long nap earlier and that got counted as a death from covid. Is that the sort of truths you're looking for, OP?

I’ve always been of a completely non medical opinion that flu deaths will be massively down this year because those susceptible to dying from flu will more likely catch COVID and die from that instead. It’s blooming horrible to think of but seems likely. A large no of those susceptible will have also died earlier this year.

Plus distancing. That will have some impact as well.

ONS for the most recent week reported:

COVID was the cause of death for 9-in-10 deaths “with COVID”.

In contrast, flu or pneumonia was the cause of death for only 1-in-6 deaths “with flu or pneumonia”.
mobile.twitter.com/ActuaryByDay/status/1323563997719920640

I’m under the care of one of the best heart and lung hospitals in the country. They’re seeing fewer non covid lung infections because of the social distancing and vulnerable patients are shielding.

@fingersxssd83 what's happening in northern hospitals?

We would t ever know because I. the hospitals they are cohorting people with flu and covid together. All the data for hospital admissions and deaths is completely skewed and its being done as a scare tactic. The hospitals are no more full than they usually are at this time of year

I know I should know this by now but what's the advantage of counting flu as covid?

Is it to scare the population into obeying the rules? I'm not clear on why this would be done

@satnighttakeaway

I know I should know this by now but what's the advantage of counting flu as covid?

Is it to scare the population into obeying the rules? I'm not clear on why this would be done

Irrelevant because they AREN’T counting them together. They are separately counted by the ONS and Covid has a higher death rate than influenza according to the statistics.

We would t ever know because I. the hospitals they are cohorting people with flu and covid together. All the data for hospital admissions and deaths is completely skewed and its being done as a scare tactic. The hospitals are no more full than they usually are at this time of year
Evidence @Charlottejade89

I work in a hospital i dont need evidence from scientists, I can see it for myself, the numbers are on the computer system

@Charlottejade89

I work in a hospital i dont need evidence from scientists, I can see it for myself, the numbers are on the computer system

Maybe your hospital is dysfunctional and dishonest, but our three local ones (I’ve immediate family working as medics in all three) ARE at capacity and are NOT counting influenza/pneumonia and Covid deaths together.

I would be interested to see if there is a reduction in flu numbers due to social distancing

What numbers?
All reports show separate lines for COVID and other respiratory conditions whether PHE or ONS.

What’s with the Northern hospitals comment? I am in the area with the hugest rates, our trust was giving figures daily, now weekly. They are high but have confirmed they are coping with the numbers still, while asking people to follow guidelines.

And not one person has died “of Covid”, all “with Covid playing a significant role”.

So exactly the same as flu in fact.

Flu numbers in Aus (and us so far) are around 98% down.

Make from the what you will but it could be that as people are tested for Covid only based on symptoms maybe they had both. Could be increased social distancing. Could be that in the battle of the viruses Covid wins , they don’t always like playing in the same host I read somewhere.

I think rather than conspiracy of tests being wrong, it should however be considered that what we are concerned about it actually capacity of hospitals to cope, and if the planned flu influx doesn’t happen for whatever reason, is that capacity going to actually be ok?

Flu season is generally later isnt it more dec/ jan time? I read an article with the stats from liverpool hospitals and I think they are running at about 85% capacity atm without it being flu season yet. I can't remember where I read it though.
I imagine with social distancing, masks, larger take up of vaccine etc that flu cases will drop this year tbh.

Australia had fewer flu cases and deaths through their winter due to lockdown and social distancing, I imagine our winter will be similar.
I do not believe COVID and flu deaths are clumped together. Conspiracy theory bollocks.