AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Texas Department of State Health Services announced this week that it has improved the reporting of fatalities due to COVID-19 by identifying them through the cause of death listed on death certificates.
According to DSHS, the method allows fatalities to be counted faster with more comprehensive demographic data. Officials said using death certificates also ensures consistent reporting across the state and enables DSHS to display fatalities by date of death, providing the public with more information about when deaths occurred.
Under the new guidelines, a fatality is counted as due to COVID-19 when the medical certifier, usually a doctor with direct knowledge of the patient, determines COVID-19 directly caused the death. This method does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Death certificates are required by law to be filed within 10 days.
DSHS previously counted COVID-19 fatalities as they were reported publicly by local and regional health departments after they received a notification and verified the death. According to health officials, the length of time that process takes varies by jurisdiction and does not provide timely demographic information on most fatalities.
As of Monday, death certificate data has identified 5,713 fatalities among Texas residents. That compares with 5,038 deaths reported Sunday under the previous method.
DSHS intends to continue to post the number of additional fatalities reported each day.
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