COVID: 178,000 excess deaths since start of pandemic

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 2 - There have been 178,000 excess deaths in Italy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Higher Health Institute (ISS) and stats agency ISTAT said Wednesday.
    Much of the excess death rate was in 2021 when vaccine coverage was still low, they said.
    Some 72% of the excess deaths last year regarded the over 80s, they said.
    In 90% of cases COVID was cited as a direct cause of death.
    Some 42% of COVID cases diagnosed in Italy were in January of this year, the report said, when the Omicron variant was running riot. (ANSA).