Changes

 The number of deaths from COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic was influenced by several factors, including scant knowledge of the new virus, the shortage of medical and infection prevention equipment, the absence of specific medical treatments, etc. As aresult, the mortality rate stood at 5% during the initial months but decreased from June 2020 due to improved treatments and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) availability. Given that almost 80% of those who died worldwide were men over 70 and women over 80, the age distribution of the population was another factor to have a considerable bearing on the countrywide outcome. It is in this context that the world map of relative mortality shall be understood, in which there are five Western European countries (the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Sweden) with a high mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants due to their older age-sex pyramids and despite their solid health services, which were caught unaware during the first few months of the pandemic. At the opposite end of the scale, China (although many authors question the reliability of their data), Asia in general and Africa may be found, yet younger populations shall be borne in mind.