According to estimates announced by the World Health Organization today, Thursday, the Corona pandemic caused between 13.3 and 16.6 million deaths in 2020 and 2021 alone, and three times more than deaths directly attributed to the disease.

The organization announced, “New estimates from the World Health Organization show that the full number of deaths directly or indirectly related to the Covid-19 pandemic between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 was about 14.9 million (within the range of 13.3 to 16.6 million).”

These estimates include those who have died from the coronavirus or its impact on overcrowded health systems in the past two years.

These estimates include, for example, people with cancer who were unable to seek treatment when hospitals were overcrowded and designated only for Corona patients.

The World Health Organization did not distinguish between direct deaths from Corona and other deaths from other causes related to the pandemic.

The new toll is more than double the official number of Corona deaths of 6 million. Most of the deaths occurred in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.

In the report issued today, the Director-General of the Organization, which is affiliated with the United Nations, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the new number as "realistic", saying that it should prompt countries to increase investment in their capabilities to face future health emergencies.