Scientists at the University of Melbourne admitted that the true mortality rate from infection with the coronavirus remains unknown. According to experts, up to two-thirds of infections in China and elsewhere went unnoticed, which could make COVID-19 a less deadly disease. This was announced in a press release on MedicalXpress.
Some experts believe that the real incidence rate is much higher than the official figures, since many infected people have mild symptoms or no signs of illness at all. The real mortality rate may be three times lower than available estimates and less than two percent.
Among the 44,700 confirmed infected people, as of mid-February, more than 80 percent were at least 60 years of age and half over 70, according to a statistical study by Chinese scientists. This is consistent with the picture in other countries: the first 12 victims in Italy were 80 years old, and there were no deaths among people 60 years old. The official death rate is 3.4 percent.
It is noticed that among children, cases of the disease are extremely rare. The 10-19 age group accounted for one percent of infections and one death. The proportion of infections among children under 10 years of age was less than one percent, and no deaths were reported. Scientists do not yet know what is the reason for this phenomenon, since children are usually more susceptible to respiratory viral and bacterial infections. Infected children are thought to have such mild symptoms that they are not tested.