Covid Australia: Incredible statistics reveal truth about Australians dying of coronavirus

Australia’s tragic Covid death toll after two years of the deadly pandemic has been broken down in detail by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It lays bare how your age, gender, place of birth and income can be the difference between life and death if you catch the disease.  

And it revealed a huge gulf in the Covid risk factors facing Australians – with some 12 times more likely to die from the disease than others.

Key stats show how the old, the poor, and some immigrant groups were at greatest risk, while poverty-stricken women had the highest death rate. 

Overall 2,639 Covid-related deaths were officially registered with the Australian Bureau of Statistics by the end of last month, including 83 who died with Covid rather than due to Covid. 

Of the total, 1,604 were born overseas, with foreign-born Covid victims suffering an age-standardised death rate three times higher than people born in Australia – 6.8 per 100,000 compared to 2.3.

That figure will rise sharply when more deaths are registered late in the wake of the devastating summer Omicron wave, to bring it closer to matching the publicly-announced (but not yet officially all registered) death tally of 3,758 to January 31.

Despite Victoria’s world record-breaking lockdowns, the state recorded the highest death rate, with 1,557 fatalities, more than 60 per cent of the nation’s total.

The data reveals the poorest women in society were four times more likely to die from Covid than rich men, and almost five times more likely than rich women. 

Those born in the Middle East also faced an exceptionally high risk of dying from the disease, with Covid running rampant through that population. 

The analysis lays bare how your age, gender, place of birth and income can be the difference between life and death if you catch the disease (pictured, Sydney’s west during lockdown)

Pacific Islanders had the lowest average of death at 70.7, while Eastern Europeans proved the hardiest with an average age of 91.8 before Covid killed them

COVID’S MANY CAUSES OF DEATH  

The 2,639 deaths include 83 people who died with Covid rather than due to Covid, who tested positive while being treated for something else, usually terminal cancer.

8.4 per cent of the total death toll died from Covid alone.

But two-thirds had pre-existing conditions which were made worse by the disease.

The statistics also confirm Covid (seen here in an electronic microscope scan) is most deadly for the elderly

More than a third of them had heart disease, almost a third had dementia and more than a fifth had diabetes. 

One in six had a respiratory disease and one in seven had cancer or high blood pressure. Each of the fatalities had on average two or three different medical conditions on top of Covid.

Two-thirds of those who died also suffered new medical problems after they were infected with Covid, including eight out of ten who died with pneumonia or respiratory failure.

Another 10 per cent died with sepsis and  10 per cent more from kidney failure while fighting Covid.

By the end of January, Middle Eastern immigrants had suffered 29.3 deaths per 100,000 population compared to 2.3 Covid deaths among those born in Australia, more than 12 times greater.

Those from the UK and Ireland had the lowest death rate of all at just 2.1 per 100,000

The statistics also confirm Covid is most deadly for the elderly. 

Of the 2,639 who died of Covid, more than 90 per cent were aged 60 or over, with just 192 Covid victims – about seven per cent – in their 50s or younger. 

Professor Catherine Bennett said the statistics revealed the wider picture of infection rates through the population which saw cultural reasons affect the spread of the disease.

The Deakin University epidemiologist said the Covid hotspots had repeatedly appeared in Middle Eastern communities with large extended households.

The younger families had often been exposed to the virus through their work before bringing it home and infecting the rest of their family, especially older relatives. 

‘This is where we’ve tended to have the epicentres,’ Professor Bennett said. ‘Often we have multi-generational households, or where people share food on a daily basis.

‘There’s a lot more connection sometimes between families depending on their cultural backgrounds, and families that particularly mix across generations. 

‘Someone born in the Middle East has the same chance of dying from the illness – but they have a greater chance of getting infected.’

She said the wealthier parts of society had more ability and options to shield from disease and isolate when infected, which is also reflected in the death rates. 

Rich families will often have their children move out earlier and often see their grandchildren less, creating fewer opportunities for infection. 

The data revealed a huge gulf in the Covid risk factors facing Australians – with some 12 times more likely to die from the disease than others (pictured, medical staff in Sydney’s Fairfield)

Two-thirds had pre-existing conditions which were made worse by the disease, with more than a third of them having heart disease, almost a third had dementia and more than a fifth had diabetes (pictured)

Despite Victoria’s longest, toughest lockdown in the world, the state recorded the highest death rate, with 1,557 fatalities, more than 60 per cent of the nation’s total (pictured)

And bigger homes allow for easier isolation protocols when someone in the household is infected, protecting the rest of the family, she said.

The data also reveals stark differences in the average ages of those who died from different birthplaces.

Pacific Islanders had the lowest average of death at 70.7, while Eastern Europeans proved the hardiest with an average age of 91.8 before Covid killed them.

The national median age for Covid deaths was 83.7, with men 81.2 and women 86.0.

The data reveals the poorest women in society were four times more likely to die from Covid than rich men, and almost five times more likely than rich women (pictured, a women shopper in Sydney’s west during the Delta lockdown)

‘The older age group was always the most vulnerable.’ Professor Bennett said. ‘We knew that all the way through.  

‘The risk profile changes for younger people, where the risk is very much about the likelihood of having long COVID.

‘You’re not so much worried about dying, but you are worried about potentially having serious illness. 

‘If you do have serious illness, you’re more likely to recover from it – but you can still end up in intensive care.’ 

Of the 2,639 deaths, more than 90 per cent of the victims were aged 60 or over, with just 192 Covid victims – around seven per cent – in their 50s or younger (pictured)

Most deaths due to COVID-19 have other conditions listed on the death certificate (91.4%). The table above shows that just under half of all certificates had both a causal sequence and pre-existing conditions listed on the certificate

For death registrations received by the ABS up to 31 January 2022 there were 83 people who died with COVID-19 rather than directly from the virus itself. The ABS refers to these deaths are referred to as COVID-19 related deaths

Two-thirds of those who died also suffered new medical problems after they were infected with Covid, including eight out of ten who died with pneumonia or respiratory failure (pictured)

Professor Bennett hopes the latest Omicron wave could be the beginning of the end for Covid and lockdowns.

‘The really good news is that no matter which variants come along, the vaccines have really helped to reduce serious illness,’ she said.

‘And  we know the booster does help protect that bit further. We have these tools in hand now. 

‘Whatever variant is thrown at us, we won’t have to experience the virulence that we would have if it had come to us in 2020. 

Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett hopes the latest Omicron wave could be the beginning of the end for Covid and lockdowns (pictured, Sydneysiders queue for vaccination jabs)

‘We’d only go into lockdown now if something really shifted. It’s going to be like the flu and even if we get a sudden mutation, we’d bring back other measures like density limits and masks first.’

But she warns a possible flu outbreak this winter may have a bigger death toll than Covid.

‘You might see fewer coronavirus deaths in winter because vulnerable people are now actually more vulnerable to flu,’ Professor Bennett said.

‘We have less immunity against the flu now because we’ve skipped two flu seasons and are screening for Covid – but not screening for flu.’

The data reveals the poorest women in society were four times more likely to die from Covid than rich men, and almost five times more likely than rich women