SINGAPORE: Eighteen more deaths have been added to Singapore’s tally of COVID-19 fatalities last year following a revision by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
MOH said on Monday (Aug 1) that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 within 2021 has been revised from 803 in order to 821. The modification follows an “annual reconciliation exercise” following the Registry of Births and Deaths finalised its report pertaining to last year, said MOH.
“Doctors are required to notify MOH of COVID-19 fatalities as soon as possible. Based on the doctors’ submissions, MOH publishes the number of COVID-19 deaths on our website every day, ” said the Ministry.
Under the Registration associated with Births and Fatalities Act 2021, physicians are also required to survey information on the cause of death to the Registry associated with Births and Deaths.
The report on Registration of Births plus Deaths for the previous year is complete and publicised each June.
General, 18 deaths were added to the Health Ministry’s official COVID-19 death count for 2021 following the reconciliation workout. This represents a 2 . 2 per cent increase from the prior count.
There is no difference within the number of COVID-19 fatalities for 2020, stated MOH.
The following are the adjustments to the recorded number of fatalities following the reconciliation physical exercise between MOH records and the Registry’s Survey:
- Eight deaths were not documented to MOH but were reported to the Registry. MOH said that it will remind physicians to report every COVID-19 deaths to the ministry.
- 11 deaths were documented to MOH, but COVID-19 infection was not indicated as the underlying cause of death in these notifications, as physicians report the cause of loss of life based on available medical information at the point of reporting. These types of deaths were eventually reported to the Registry with COVID-19 since the cause of death after further review by doctors.
- One death was in the MOH COVID-19 count for 2021, and the Registry’s count for 2022. It was due to differences in the date of reporting to MOH and the Registry because the demise occurred on Dec 31, 2021. MOH said it will range from the case in the 2022 count instead of the 2021 count.
MOH added that five fatalities from the report on Registration of Births and Deaths were individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas, and who died right after returning to Singapore.
“These fatalities will not be included as MOH’s count just includes deaths through COVID-19 diagnosed in Singapore, ” stated the Health Ministry.
“We expect to create annual adjustments towards the COVID-19 death consider July, following the publication of the report on Registration of Births and Deaths. ”
As of midday on Monday, Singapore has reported an overall total of 1, 718, 765 cases of COVID-19 with 1, 502 fatalities.