Coronavirus: Canadian study finds COVID-19 deaths higher during weekends than weekdays; here's why

The coronavirus pandemic has been quite unpredictable not just in terms of its incessant mutability, but also with regard to how it affects different individuals. While some people experience no symptoms at all, others go on to develop severe complications, leading to hospitalization and even death. Although COVID-19 deaths were considerably lower during the Omicron-induced wave, a new study reveals that the number could be higher during certain days of the week. Let us find out all about it.

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According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada, global COVID-19 deaths on weekends have been higher compared to weekdays during the coronavirus pandemic.

The study found that the average number of global deaths from the SARs-CoV-2 virus were 6% higher on weekends (8,532) as compared to weekdays (8,083) throughout the pandemic. The team of researchers studied all deaths reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID database between March 7, 2020, and March 7, 2022.

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The findings of the study, which will be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Portugal later this month, were as follows:

The United States had on average 1,483 weekend COVID-19 deaths compared to 1,220 on weekdays i.e. a 22% increase.

Brazil had an average of 1,061 weekend deaths compared to 823 on weekdays - a 29% rise.

The United Kingdom had on average 239 weekend deaths compared to 215 on weekdays i.e. an 11% increase.

After analysing the average number of COVID deaths on individual days of the week, the study further found that the difference in the numbers was much bigger when comparing Sunday to Monday - 8,850 compared to 7,219 deaths - and Friday to Monday - 9,086 compared to 7,219.

However, one of the researchers Dr Fizza Manzoor noted that the differences did not account for all the countries, since COVID death on weekends(137) in Germany was lower compared to weekdays (187).

"Bureaucratic delays on weekends alone do not explain why there are fewer documented COVID-19 deaths on Mondays compared to Fridays, and reporting lags alone cannot explain why the increase in weekend deaths was so substantial in the USA and not seen in Germany, says Dr Manzoor.

"Instead, the 'weekend effect' is also likely to be due to shortfalls in clinical staffing, capacity, and experience.

"What's more, our findings suggest that this problem is not resolving despite improved health system performance and awareness over the course of the pandemic.

"There is an opportunity for health systems to further improve clinical care on all days of the week," the doc adds.

Researchers accepted that reporting delays was probably to blame, but shortfalls in clinical staffing, capacity, and experience could also be some of the contributing factors.

While new emerging variants may affect the efficacy of COVID vaccines, leading to breakthrough infection, still, getting yourself vaccinated is the best shot against the SARs-CoV-2 virus. For those eligible for COVID booster shots must receive them immediately, so as to re-expose your body to the immunizing antigen, the memory of which (following previous doses) may have been lost over time.

Besides, following COVID-appropriate behaviour, which is wearing your masks, maintaining social distance, continues to be an integral step against COVID-19.