key: cord-0787657-p8vdkljy
authors: Yi-Tung Chen, Enoch; Sachs, Michael C.; Dickman, Paul W.
title: No evidence of substantial underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in Taiwan during 2020
date: 2021-03-24
journal: J Formos Med Assoc
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2021.03.018
sha: e3f93d9e2f395894592cad0fc9d3c759e6447b91
doc_id: 787657
cord_uid: p8vdkljy

nan

In conclusion, our results suggest there is no evidence of considerable underreporting of deaths due to COVID-19 in Taiwan, January 2020-January 2021. The Taiwanese government implemented several approaches in response to COVID-19, including the widespread use of masks, social distancing, tracing close contacts of confirmed cases, and 14-day quarantine for people travelling to Taiwan. These measures can be expected to reduce deaths due to causes other than COVID-19, for example, lower mortality rates due to pneumonia and influenza in 2020 4 . New Zealand also observed lower all-cause mortality during 2020, which was attributed to stringent disease prevention strategies and an absence of influenza epidemic 5 . It is important to continue monitoring monthly/weekly excess and cause-specific mortality as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.

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