09/01/2020
False and misleading information has been circulating about the recent weekly CDC report on deaths associated with COVID-19. There have been claims that the CDC reported that only 6% of people listed as coronavirus deaths actually died from COVID-19 since the other 94% had other serious illnesses. Not true.
Here are the facts:
• The CDC published their report entitled, “Weekly Updates by
Select Demographic and Geographic Characteristics
Provisional Death Counts for Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19)” on August 26.
• Under the section called “Co-morbidities”, Table 3 shows the types of health conditions listed as contributing causes on death certificates involving COVID-19.
• Of all these death certificates that listed COVID-19 as a
contributing cause, the CDC reported that only 6% of the death certificates had COVID-19 mentioned as the only contributing cause. This does NOT mean that only 6% of reported COVID-19 deaths died from COVID-19.
• 94% of the death certificates had COVID-19 and at least one
other medical condition (co-morbidity) listed on the death certificates as contributing to their death. The kinds of
diseases include those that the CDC has clearly said for a
long time put people at increased risk for severe illness from
COVID-19 if they become infected. These conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, lung conditions, heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, and others. These reflect the
medical conditions listed on the death certificates along with
COVID-19.
• People can live with obesity, diabetes or heart disease for
years but then get infected with the COVID-19 virus and die
quickly – in other words, the COVID-19 contributed to their
sudden demise. Had they not been infected with the COVID-
19 virus, they might have lived longer.
What is the real take home message?
COVID-19 had a role in 100% of the deaths reported. People of any age who have any of the conditions that put an individual at increased risk of serious complications of COVID-19 including death should be diligent in taking preventive measures against COVID-19 such as social distancing, avoiding gatherings and crowds, wearing a face covering properly and consistently, washing hands and keeping them away from your face, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces at home.
Make sure you are getting factual information from reliable sources. If it doesn’t sound logical or make common sense, check other sources. Don’t help spread rumors and untruths – living through a pandemic provides enough drama.