Backlog nearly doubles Ohio’s COVID-19 death toll in November and December
Ohio added 4,275 previously unreported COVID-19 deaths to the state’s count at the end of last week.
The department s Bureau of Infectious Diseases and Bureau of Vital Statistics completed the death reconciliation process for the period of October to December 2020, a department spokeswoman confirmed. That resulted in 4,275 deaths added to the state s toll on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The team is continuing the deep review of the data which will result in some additional fluctuations in the numbers, spokeswoman Arundi Venkayya said in an email.
Clearing the backlog increased Ohio s deaths by 38% – from 11,856 deaths to 16,346. Each death was recorded for the date it occurred in the state s COVID-19 data set.
A total of 4,275 previously unreported COVID-19 deaths were added to Ohio s cumulative total since state officials announced a reporting error last week.