Peru, which was already one of the world’s hardest-hit countries during the pandemic, updated its official death toll from Covid-19 on Monday, adding more than 110,000 fatalities than previously reported.
A total of 180,764 people have died from coronavirus through May 22, according to a report by a group of experts convened by the government to clarify the real number of victims in the country of some 32 million people.
That’s 165 per cent higher than the previous official tally of 68,053 and would place it fifth globally in total deaths after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
“The number of deaths from Covid-19 reported today reflect the magnitude of one of the worst health, economic and social crises in our Republican history, and highlights the overwhelming need to strengthen and modernize the Peruvian State,” said the group of experts in a statement.
The report comes just days before a run-off election slated for June 6. Since the last election in 2016, Francisco Sagasti - who is not a candidate - is the fourth person to hold the presidency after his predecessors were forced out over graft investigations and scandals.
Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez said the toll was adjusted on the advice of a panel, which suggested modifying Peru's record-keeping criteria.
The panel said in a report the existing methodology generated "an under-representation in the number of deaths due to Covid-19".
The criteria were broadened beyond people who tested positive for the virus to include "probable" cases with "an epidemiological link to a confirmed case".
They will also now include people thought to be infected with the virus who present "a clinical picture compatible with the disease".
"Thanks to the work of this team... we will have more exhaustive figures and figures that will be very useful to monitor the pandemic and take the appropriate measures to confront it," Ms Bermudez said.
Ex-president Martin Vizcarra and other cabinet members were found to have jumped the line to receive vaccines during trials held by China’s Sinopharm late last year.
Peru is behind its peers in Latin America in vaccinations as well. Some 3.8 million shots have been administered, covering just 8% of the population with a first dose and 3.5% considered fully vaccinated, according to Bloomberg’s tracker.
