CDC suggests death toll in 7 states, including Mass., may be higher than reported – WCVB Boston

Posted: Published on April 29th, 2020

This post was added by Alex Diaz-Granados

Federal health officials say that the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak may be worse in several states, including Massachusetts.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that there were 9,000 more deaths in seven states than official totals suggest. In Massachusetts, they found that between March 8 and April 11, there were 1,200 more deaths than normal -- a 120% increase. The official death toll from COVID-19 in that period was 686. "We're seeing such an excess in mortality than we're used to seeing in other years, and that has to be explained by something," said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. If some of the "excess deaths" are COVID-19 related deaths, how could they be miscounted?Its really important to try to get these numbers right and try to get an estimate for how severe the epidemic has been and how severe it might be so that the public can understand why we are making these major sacrifices that we are right now, Dr. Daniel Weinberger said.The New York Times reported that one reason for the gap could be a surge in deaths from other causes. The stress of handling the outbreak -- both on the health system and on individuals -- caused people to die from issues that would be treatable. "You may think, 'Well, isn't it clear what someone died of?' But sometimes, it's not, Ellerin said. I'll give you an example. It's possible that someone could die of what looks like a heart attack, but that actually could be a COVID-related type of heart inflammation." Massachusetts is taking a closer look at death certificates to try and get a more accurate death toll."People have gone back and started to do some work to try and figure out if there are cases where people presented with would've been deemed as COVID-19 type symptoms, and possibly were categorized in some other way," Gov. Charlie Baker said.Another possible explanation for the "excess deaths" is people who died from treatable non COVID-related illnesses because they did not seek proper care."We think that many patients are having non COVID-related illness at home, and not seeking medical attention," Ellerin said.

Federal health officials say that the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak may be worse in several states, including Massachusetts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that there were 9,000 more deaths in seven states than official totals suggest.

In Massachusetts, they found that between March 8 and April 11, there were 1,200 more deaths than normal -- a 120% increase. The official death toll from COVID-19 in that period was 686.

"We're seeing such an excess in mortality than we're used to seeing in other years, and that has to be explained by something," said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health.

If some of the "excess deaths" are COVID-19 related deaths, how could they be miscounted?

Its really important to try to get these numbers right and try to get an estimate for how severe the epidemic has been and how severe it might be so that the public can understand why we are making these major sacrifices that we are right now, Dr. Daniel Weinberger said.

The New York Times reported that one reason for the gap could be a surge in deaths from other causes. The stress of handling the outbreak -- both on the health system and on individuals -- caused people to die from issues that would be treatable.

"You may think, 'Well, isn't it clear what someone died of?' But sometimes, it's not, Ellerin said. I'll give you an example. It's possible that someone could die of what looks like a heart attack, but that actually could be a COVID-related type of heart inflammation."

Massachusetts is taking a closer look at death certificates to try and get a more accurate death toll.

"People have gone back and started to do some work to try and figure out if there are cases where people presented with would've been deemed as COVID-19 type symptoms, and possibly were categorized in some other way," Gov. Charlie Baker said.

Another possible explanation for the "excess deaths" is people who died from treatable non COVID-related illnesses because they did not seek proper care.

"We think that many patients are having non COVID-related illness at home, and not seeking medical attention," Ellerin said.

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CDC suggests death toll in 7 states, including Mass., may be higher than reported - WCVB Boston

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