https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="1⃣" title="Keycap digit one" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit one"> We need a more accurate comparison of how #COVID19 is affecting mortality around the world.

But current reported counts of deaths have limitations, including:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔎" title="Right-pointing magnifying glass" aria-label="Emoji: Right-pointing magnifying glass"> Variation in testing coverage
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📉" title="Chart with downwards trend" aria-label="Emoji: Chart with downwards trend"> Exclusion of persons dying in the community

What can be done? Thread https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="2⃣" title="Keycap digit two" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit two"> In @FT (£), David Leon et al. suggest analysis of weekly excess deaths from any cause would provide an additional and highly comparable #PublicHealth index.

This sidesteps the challenge of consistently counting deaths attributable to #COVID19.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉" title="Right pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index"> https://on.ft.com/2V5BmR9 ">https://on.ft.com/2V5BmR9&q...

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="3⃣" title="Keycap digit three" aria-label="Emoji: Keycap digit three"> & #39;National statistics agencies should rise to the challenge and make data public with minimal delay, broken down by sex, age group and subnational region& #39; like UK& #39;s @ONS.

This well help beat the current pandemic and formulate lessons for future outbreaks. @DrTedros @UNStats