 The World Health Organization WHO has stated that there were 14.9 million excess deaths associated with COVID-19 by the end of 2021. The official count of deaths are directly attributable to COVID-19 and reported to WHO in that period from January 2020 to the end of December 2021 was slightly more than 5.4 The WHO's excess mortality figures reflect people who died of COVID-19 as well as those who died as an indirect result of the outbreak, including people who could not access healthcare for other conditions when systems were overwhelmed during huge waves of infection. Globally, we estimate 14.9 million excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by 31 December of 2021. So this estimate ranges from 13.3 million to 16.6 million. There were 5.4 million reported COVID-19 deaths to WHO over this period. So this excess estimate represents 9.5 million more deaths or 2.75 times more deaths than reported. Data is indeed the lifeblood of public health. COVID has illuminated a staggering toll already that we have seen 14.9 million excess deaths, but it has also illuminated a staggering data gaps in countries. Too much is unknown and there is too much delay in getting life and death information. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.