New electronic reporting system identifies over 1,100 additional COVID-19 deaths in NC

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has identified 1,146 additional COVID-19-related deaths that occurred between January 1st and March 31st. According to a news release, the state was able to access death certificate data through a new electronic reporting system. Until now, deaths on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard have been reported through physicians or hospitals and thorough case investigations by local health departments. Prior to the electronic system, paper death certificates were filed manually and weren’t available for months. The newly reported fatalities will be added to the COVID dashboard when it is updated Wednesday increasing the total number of COVID deaths in our state to more than 24,000. NCDHHS said in the news release that North Carolina has the lowest per capita rates of COVID deaths in the Southeast and ranks among the lowest in the nation.