Colorado changed the way it is reporting deaths related to COVID-19 that could clarify the state’s understanding of the disease.
Days after Montezuma County disputed the state’s coronavirus death count, Colorado announced Friday it will provide two death statistics going forward: deaths among people who had COVID-19 at the time of death and deaths caused by COVID-19. Colorado tracks deaths in part to help researchers understand the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Every single death is tragic, regardless of the circumstances,” said Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in a news release. “We know this virus can be deadly and can complicate other serious medical conditions and hasten death. As public health practitioners, we need to look at data that helps us understand disease transmission and protect people.”
The Montezuma County Coroner’s Office disputed the state’s claim of a third fatal case of the coronavirus in Cortez, saying the person died of alcohol poisoning. The state initially reported the death as a COVID-19 death. The county office maintained the person had the disease, but did not die from it.
Similar cases will start to be identified in state reporting. As of Friday, Colorado reported 1,150 deaths among people who have COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 878 deaths caused by COVID-19 in Colorado as of May 9.
This data is shared for disease surveillance and tracking purposes. It is separate from the state official death records, which are maintained through death certificates, the news release said.
“We understand it is confusing that there are different systems and ways of counting deaths,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, in the release. “It’s important to understand the difference between the official cause of death and the list of deaths among COVID-19 cases.”
