No, they may not be “from the pandemic”, they may be from the actions taken in response to the pandemic. These aren’t the same things.
It was weird being pro science and seeing this turn political. It really showed which of my friends could think scientifically for themselves, and which repeated what authority said.
A true pro-science position is to follow the conclusions from scientific observations wherever they may lead however uncomfortable that may be. Someone who is not pro-science but merely adopting the aesthetic of science will claim "obey the science" as though it's a doctrine rather than simply a tool.
Scientists are Authority, not science.
It was mind boggling how many scientists made this mistake.
But which? That's an extremely important distinction because the correct response might be further lockdowns or the exact opposite. Merely knowing there were four million excess deaths, while tragic and important information, is not a useful guide for the response.
And discussion about the effects of lockdowns on the supply chain is part of that context.
The obvious inference many people will jump to is that the deaths are directly due to covid. It's important to remember there are other possible explanations.