Covid deaths on weekends have been higher compared to weekdays during the pandemic, according to a new global study. Researchers accepted that reporting delays could be a contributing factor, but said shortfalls in clinical staffing, capacity, and experience at weekends are also likely to play a role.
Overall, the average number of global deaths from coronavirus were 6% higher on weekends compared to weekdays - 8,532 compared to 8,083 - throughout the pandemic, researchers said.
Experts from the University of Toronto in Canada analysed all deaths reported to the World Health Organization Covid-19 database between 7 March, 2020 and 7 March, 2022.
The findings, which are due to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Portugal later this month, suggest the US had on average 1,483 weekend deaths compared to 1,220 on weekdays - a 22% increase.