University of Hong Kong researchers put Covid-19 mortality rate at 1.4 per cent

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have estimated the mortality rate among symptomatic Covid-19 patients at 1.4 per cent, in contrast with 3.4 per cent put forth by the World Health Organisation earlier this week.

But HKU researchers also warned that the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus was “much more severe and deadlier” than the swine flu pandemic in 2009.

The latest estimation, based on data collected since late December last year, came as more than 98,000 people have been infected with Covid-19 across the globe, while more than 3,000 died. In Hong Kong, 107 people were confirmed to be infected as of Friday evening, with two fatalities.

The latest study, a joint project between the HKU and the school of public health at Harvard University, projected that in every 1,000 people who showed symptoms of Covid-19 infection, 14 died.

Professor Gabriel Leung, founding director of the HKU’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, said the projection was based on data, including previous studies on estimated infected cases in mainland China, as well as confirmed cases reported by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention till mid-February. Foreigners infected in Wuhan who left on chartered flights around late January and early February were also included in the study.