Pierce County Health Clarifies Confusion Surrounding CDC Report

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lit up the internet and, the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department says, caused quite a bit of misinformation and confusion, which they hope to dispel.

The report in question is the CDC's weekly Provisional Death Counts for Coronavirus Disease 2019, which they released on August 26.

The bit that set the misinformation machine going? A statement showing that COVID-19 was the only cause of death listed on just 6 percent of death certificates.

For those who already believed that the coronavirus pandemic was overblown or a hoax, this appears to be a smoking gun. If just six percent of coronavirus "deaths" can be attributed to the virus, then the 186,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States could actually be more like 11,000, a fraction of what's being reported.

However, that isn't what's happening, says the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department:

"The CDC didn’t mention the other 94% of people who died had COVID-19 and other contributing conditions," writes Lora Davis epidemiologist for Tacoma - Pierce County Health. "They died from COVID-19 and, on average, 2.6 contributing conditions listed on death certificates."

In other words: while it is true that just six percent of death certificates listed COVID-19 as the sole cause, 100 percent listed it as one of the causes of death. That's not unusual, says health officials.

"Multiple causes of death is the norm," writes Davis.

The coronavirus can cause other illnesses, like pneumonia, hypoxia, and septicemia, which would then be listed as a cause of death alongside COVID-19 in any death report. In addition, the coronavirus is always more serious for those who have underlying health problems, so if a patient died from the virus but also had previously been diagnosed with heart disease, lung disease, or obesity, those might also show up on death certificates.

County officials say, they're doing everything they can to make sure their reports on coronavirus mortality are as transparent and accurate as possible.

"We review every death certificate for all people in Pierce County who had a COVID-19 positive test," writes Davis. "We double check causes of death for each person to report those dying because of the virus and not those dying with the virus."

Related: Public Health Report Examines King County Coronavirus Deaths

If it isn't 100 percent certain that COVID-19 was the cause of death, the county follows up with physicians or the medical examiner before that death is included in the official reports.

All of this is to say: the virus remains a serious problem for our community, and while it's especially for our elders and for those who have underlying health conditions, it can be deadly for anyone, and cause serious, lasting complications even in normally healthy people. That's why health experts continue to urge residents to follow safety guidelines for mask usage and physical distancing.

"People in all age groups have died because of this disease," Davis said. "It’s up to all of us to do our part to stop its spread."

Read Davis' full remarks on the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department's website.

Learn more about CDC regulations for death certificates.