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According to the ABS’ Provisional Mortality Statistics, winter deaths fell below average due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions:
- 92,015 doctor certified deaths occurred before 25 August.
- Deaths rose in the second half of winter but remain below average.
- Respiratory disease deaths have been lower than historical minimums since June…
- There were 7,941 deaths from respiratory diseases between 1 January 2020 and 25 August 2020.
- The average number of deaths for the same period between 2015 and 2019 was 9,080.
- Over the four weeks from 18 March to 14 April there were a total of 1,046 respiratory disease deaths, 155 more than the historic average for 2015-19.
- Since the week ending 9 June, the weekly number of deaths due to respiratory diseases has remained below the historic minimum for 2015-19.
- Between 3 June and 25 August, there have been 2,764 deaths, 1,275 below the average of 4,039.
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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.