Death Count Expected To Soar As NYC Says It Will Begin Reporting Probable COVID Deaths ...

[sl8]

From https://gothamist.com/news/death-count-expected-soar-nyc-says-it-will-begin-reporting-suspected-covid-deaths-addition-confirmed-ones?

Death Count Expected To Soar As NYC Says It Will Begin Reporting Probable COVID Deaths In Addition To Confirmed Ones

BY GWYNNE HOGAN, WNYC
APRIL 8, 2020 5:30 A.M.

New York City officials will begin to count suspected COVID-19 deaths of people who die at home following a WNYC/Gothamist report revealing a staggering number of such deaths that were not included in the official tally.

In a statement, Stephanie Buhle, a spokeswoman for New York City’s Health Department, said the city would no longer report only those cases that were confirmed by a laboratory test.

“The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and the NYC Health Department are working together to include into their reports deaths that may be linked to COVID but not lab confirmed that occur at home,” she said.

She didn’t say when the city would begin reporting suspected deaths along with the overall count. But the new protocol is likely to add thousands to the toll.

[...]

[hlthe2b]

1. This needs to occur nationwide. Statistically the "expected" deaths for every state and city

based on many many decades of data is well established for this pattern of death (influenza-like illness). Dramatic departures from expected deaths of this nature that occur at home should be reflected in overall COVI-19 mortality.

Given the abysmal lack of testing (coroners and funeral home directors have been refused tests), there is an undoubted undercount.

[Chicago1980]

14. Blue States will probably do this...

Red States, not so much as they'll want to keep numbers low to try and look better and again, number manipulation by the president.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Recommended

[DFW]

3. Good. The sooner the real statistics are reported....

Last edited Thu Apr 9, 2020, 07:48 AM - Edit history (1)

The sooner the real scope of this crisis can be addressed.

Here in Germany, there have been about 100,000 diagnosed infections. But over 90% of the population can't even get tested here. Any probable death does not get counted. People marvel at Germany's "lowe dead yet, and when you answer, "no," they then tell you to stay at home and don't" rate of infection and fatalities. But the lack of testing makes for deceptive statistics, and no one here believes a word of the official numbers. Call the health department, and if you can manage to wait the hour or so before anyone comes on the line, they practically ask if you are dead yet, and when you answer no, they tell you to stay home and not to bother them any more.

[Recursion]

6. Also Germany isn't counting secondary pneumonia deaths even with a positive test

I roll my eyes every time I read about Germany's alleged magic solution, when Germany said from the beginning that they weren't counting secondary pneumonia deaths as Covid, only primary respiratory or cardiac arrests.

[DFW]

8. Here in Germany, they are fooling no one

The coalition is making no friends with this manipulation of statistics.

[gibraltar72]

4. Jesus this is gonna drive the wackos

in my little county ape shit crazy. We are a designated rural hot spot. I've posted here earlier about how hard some worked to get the honor. My wife said that swamp is now telling how every death is being called Covid related because something, something, something

[barbtries]

11. yes,

my right wing co-worker won't believe it. he didn't say it but i think he believes the numbers reported are actually inflated. he said he heard a conspiracy theory that Bill Gates wants to microchip every person who gets vaccinated once the vaccine is available. I just looked that one up.
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-coronavirus-bill-gates-micr/false-claim-bill-gates-planning-to-use-microchip-implants-to-fight-coronavirus-idUSKBN21I3EC

it's not true. then he started in on something else and i said I'm not going here right now. This man is a scientist himself and I am continually gobsmacked at his world view.

[Progressive dog]

5. Trump won't like that,

he's tried to hide the deaths and sicknesses from the beginning.

[johnthewoodworker]

7. I am certain there will be no claims of 'fake news' at this change in reporting.

[SUC260]

9. Accurate death count needed.

All those people that have been told they can not have a test and then stay home and die need to be counted. By not counting them it keeps the official death count down which is what the party in power wants. We must have an accurate count and increased testing before we even begin to think about opening up for business.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. +1

And, welcome to DU!

[barbtries]

12. The only person I know personally who's had it

was not reported or tested and neither was his wife. It started with him when his wife babysat for their daughter. who then became ill, followed by his wife getting sick, then he got sick. His daughter tested positive. He got it the worst of all of them and was dreadfully sick for about 3 weeks but is recovering now. So right there are 3 people who had it and 1 who was reported.

[gab13by13]

13. Sure Trump is going to look better,

by deflating the numbers but he is going to lose in the long run by discouraging testing. He is planning on sending some people back to work on May 1st, but don't be afraid, before they get to go back to work they will have their temperatures taken. Why not just test them instead of just taking their temperatures? The answer is that testing would inflate the numbers. By not testing we are going to have a 2nd wave and it may hit close to election time. Countries like Germany, yes, are fudging the numbers but it tested more than we did, it has a better handle on where they stand with the virus.

[flying_wahini]

15. Same here in Texas. Our Gov. Hot Wheels Abbott has been conspicuously absent

Except to say everything is going great.