Should policymakers weigh an adjusted Covid death rate?

The infection fatality rate (IFR) is calculated on cumulative reported deaths and total number of infected. This rate has risen in recent days as some states have revised numbers.

A study by M Seshadri of Christian Medical College, Vellore, and CR Ranganathan of Coimbatore Institute of Technology, argues that deaths on a given day are related to cases identified much earlier, and hence fatality rate should be calculated accordingly.

This could give policymakers better insights to manage the disease. ET reports.