Everywhere in Europe, the crisis of the sars coronavirus caused a significant increase in mortality. According to the latest data from the Insee, the number of deaths has increased by 50 % on average between late march and early April. France, Spain, Belgium and Italy are logically in the most affected countries on the Old Continent.
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While in previous years the mortality rate had a downward trend in the month of march after the episodes of seasonal influenza, it has on the contrary increased significantly this year, reaching a peak, both in France and in Europe, the week of march 30, shows on Wednesday the national statistics Institute. Thus, between 30 march and 6 April, 50 % of deaths were registered in Europe compared to an average based on the number of deaths in the same week for the period 2016-2019.
60% Higher in France
This proportion has reached 60 % in France, 155 % in Spain, 91 % in Belgium (and 107 % in the country the following week) and 67 % in Italy (88 % in the previous week, the peak having been reached a week earlier). The excess mortality is then reduced gradually to undo virtually the beginning of may. More broadly, for a period from 2 march to 26 April, virtually the bulk of which (84 %) of the excess mortality observed in the 21 eu countries for which the Insee has been of the data is attributable to Spain, Italy, Belgium and France.
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The excess mortality was, respectively, 71 % in Spain, 49 % in Italy, 44 % in Belgium and 28 % in France over the whole of the eight weeks where the epidemic has been most intense. Conversely, in Germany, the most populous country in Europe, the excess mortality is much lower (4 % on the same period), as for a large part of the countries of central and eastern Europe. Both in France and in Europe, the excess mortality was more affected men, and those over 50 years of age, especially over 70 years of age.
