Gujarat’s official COVID-19 tally left out hundreds who died of the infection: Report

Gujarat did not include hundreds of persons who died after getting infected by COVID-19 in the state’s official mortality figures, according to a report by Dainik Bhaskar.

The last rites of these deceased persons, who did not visit any hospital or received any treatment, were performed in accordance with the protocol established for those who have died of COVID-19.

Only 5% of the dead bodies – only those who had shown symptoms of coronavirus – were tested for COVID-19, a report carried by The Wire said.

The Dainik Bhaskar report also said that since March 2020, 500 bodies had been brought to civilian hospitals. Of these only 10 had been tested for COVID-19, even though 200 had displayed symptoms. Of those tested, three were found to be positive – i.e. every third person among those who had been suspected.

“A rapid test of 10 corpses with corona symptoms was performed at the civil hospital. There were about 190 dead bodies which were not tested and open post-mortems were done for them,” the report said.

Surat-based Dr Chandresh Jardosh, president of the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Medical Association, was quoted as saying: “There is no doubt that the numbers are being underplayed. There seems to be an unwritten policy of not counting deaths of COVID-19 patients with co-morbidities as deaths due to COVID-19.”