Replies

There’s new coding being used for WuFlu, at least on death certificates. Usage started on March 24 as per the National Vital Statistics System.

FReeper medicos might want to weigh in on how that works.

It looks like the CDC doesn't need explicit C virus diagnosis to list the C virus as the primary cause of death. If the number of deaths whose primary cause is listed as pneumonia is statistically significantly fewer this year than in recent years, how much might that contribute to the number of deaths listed as from the C virus?

The following in italics is from NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics), part of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website.

Should “COVID-19” be reported on the death certificate only with a confirmed test?

COVID-19 should be reported on the death certificate for all decedents where the disease caused or is assumed to have caused or contributed to death.

If the decedent had other chronic conditions such as COPD or asthma that may have also contributed, these conditions can be reported in Part II.

The bold face type is on the website. I find it very concerning that COVID-19 should be listed as the primary cause of death even if it is only "assumed ... to have contributed" to the death.