DISINFO: Anybody dying today is listed as a victim of the pandemic
SUMMARY
Anybody dying today with even a trace of Corona virus in their system is automatically listed as a victim of the pandemic, so publicly cited statistics could be made to look more intimidating.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory. There is no evidence to suggest that the statistics about COVID-19 cases and mortality rate are manipulated to exaggerate the numbers. The World Health Organisation has recently issued classification guidelines for certification and classification of COVID-19 as the cause of death. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March, acknowledging that the virus had become a global phenomenon. Before that date, the situation was being described as an epidemic, illustrating that the virus had already spread to many people, and many communities, at the same time. As of 14 April, the total number of COVID-19 cases had passed 1.7 million. COVID-19 comes from a family of viruses originating in animals that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading across the world, with cases being reported in over 190 countries, territories and areas. The number of COVID-19 global deaths has now passed 90,000. See similar disinformation narrative alleging that the COVID-19 crisis is manufactured by media.