ΑΤΗΕΝS — Total deaths in Greece, including those caused by the pandemic, increased by 9.48 pct compared to the previous year during the first 31 weeks of 2021 (from January 4, 2021 until August 8, 2021), the independent Greek statistics agency ELSTAT reported on Thursday.

There were 83,826 deaths (42,620 men and 41,206 women) during that period, whereas the number of deaths in the equivalent period in 2020 (December 30, 2019 until August 2, 2020) was 76,567 (38,274 men and 38,293 women).

There was also a 12 pct increase in deaths compared to the average number of deaths for the same period over the six years 2015-2020 (74,844), with 8,982 more occurring in 2021.

According to ELSTAT, the highest number of deaths in 2021 was recorded in week 26 (June 28 until July 4 – 44.6 pct up ), week 31 (August 2-8 – 42.2 pct up), week 18 (May 3-9 – 27.3 pct up) and week 17 (April 26-May 2 – 27.2 pct up). The lowest number of deaths were in week 5 (February 1-7 – 16.6 pct down), week 2 (January 11-17 – 14.9 pct down) and week 6 (February 8-14 – 13.6 pct down).