Statec said there were 1,129 deaths due to all causes in the first quarter of 2020, which is -2.7% lower than the figure recorded in 2019 and -11.2% lower than 2018.
This was mostly due to a massive drop in fatalities in February. There were 331 deaths in February 2020, compared to 395 in February 2019 (-16.2%) and 449 in February 2018 (-26.3%). Statec did not speculate on the reasons for this decline.
The mortality rate during the second half of March, when covid-19 cases began to surge, was notably higher than previous years. Between 16-31 March 2020, there were 227 deaths, compared to an average of 197 during the same period in 2018 and 2019 (+15.3%).
The mortality rates for people aged 0-64, 75-84 and 85+ were more or less stable in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 and 2018. However, women 65-74 years old were slightly more likely to have died than in previous years and men 65-74 years old were slightly less likely.
The numbers come from municipal registry offices and the Government IT Centre (CTIE), Statec said. Data for deaths in April 2020 will be released “in early June”.