Missouri confirms 20% increase in COVID-19 related deaths after a reporting delay
Missouri reported 44 more deaths from the new coronavirus Friday. The increase represents a 20% jump in deaths but is related to delayed reporting from a jurisdiction in the state, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
According to data released Friday afternoon by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the virus has infected 6,625 Missourians, killing 262. The data represented 304 new cases, about a 4.8% increase in residents who had tested positive for COVID-19.
The data, however, represents new cases from a range of dates because of technical difficulties. According to the state health department, results from a commercial lab were not submitted to the state during April 16-22. Many of those new cases, the state’s website said, were identified as new cases Friday.
Similarly, the state reported, there was a delay in death reporting from a jurisdiction in the state, meaning the 44 deaths reported Friday could have occurred between April 12-22.
State health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox did not confirm which jurisdiction had delayed reporting in time for publication.
On Thursday, the state reported 10 new deaths and 184 new cases from the day before.
As of Thursday 64,903 people had been tested for the virus in the state.
According to state data, 577 people are hospitalized from the virus, a decrease of 13 from Thursday. However, 300 patients are under investigation for the disease — an increase of six from Thursday.
The largest number of cases and deaths are being reported in St. Louis County and city, where 3,575 people have been infected and 169 have died.
In Kansas City, state officials are reporting 472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths.
More than half of the Missouri residents who have died from the virus were more than 70 years old.
Nationwide, the rapidly spreading virus has infected more than 886,000 people and killed more than 50,000 according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
