UPDATE: 12:33 P.M. News Talk 104.1 has received the following from Nate Wardle, Press Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Health after a question relating to Coronor reporting of COVID-19 deaths.
“A death attended to by a medical professional, which includes a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant or dentist who is a staff member of a licensed health care facility does not need to be referred to a coroner. These medical professionals, through their hospital or facility, would have access to our data.
Deaths are referred to a coroner if a death case occurs when a medical professional is not able to certify the death, or if the circumstances surrounding the death suggest the death was sudden, violent, suspicious in nature or was the result of other than natural causes.
A death of natural causes, such as from COVID-19, can be certified by a medical professional.
The Vital Statistics Law says that deaths are referred to a coroner if the death is not attended to by a medical professional, or if the death is sudden, violent or suspicious. The Coroner’s Law in the county code comes into play when the coroner views the body. If the death is attended to by a medical professional, the coroner would not see the body.
The coroners only have authority if they are referred the death case, which again occurs if the death is not witnessed, or if it sudden, violent or suspicious.
A death associated with COVID-19 would not be sudden, violent or suspicious, and in most cases would occur in a health care setting.
Flu is an infectious and contagious disease, and coroners do not investigate flu deaths.”
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 21, that there are 1,296 Positives bringing the statewide total to 34,528 with 1,564 total deaths.
News Talk 104.1 reached out to Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling for reaction and comment on the first two deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Lycoming County.
Kiessling was unaware the Pennsylvania Department of Health had reported these deaths and was in the process of investigating.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has long stated that the reporting of COVID-19 related deaths is a difficult process since a patient may be hospitalized or pass away in another county, but there home county of residence is different.
Local counties as noted below that have at least one positive COVID-19 case confirmed and updated cases provided.
Columbia County – 225 (added 17 cases Monday plus 1 death), 8 deaths
Northumberland County – (added 4 cases Monday)
Montour County – 47 (reduced 1 case Monday)
Lycoming County – 42 (added 2 cases Monday), first 2 deaths reported Monday
Union County – 29 (added 1 case Monday)
Bradford County – 31 (added 6 cases Monday), 4 deaths added, 5 deaths
Tioga County – 15 (added 1 case Monday) 1 death added, 2 deaths
Clinton County – 11
Potter County – 4
Sullivan County – 1
Combined, there are now 482 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths in the region.
The Department of Health also reported a total of 132,323 negatives.
Local counties as noted below with positive COVID-19 cases listed first followed by negative test results and number of deaths.
Columbia County – 225 – 220 – 8
Northumberland County – 77 – 288 – 0
Montour County – 47 – 2,933 – 0
Lycoming County – 42 – 796 – 2
Union County – 29 – 424 – 0
Bradford County – 31 – 408 – 5
Tioga County – 15 – 177 – 2
Clinton County – 11 – 114 – 0
Potter County – 4 – 61 – 0
Sullivan County – 1 – 24 – 0
Combined, there are now 482 positive COVID-19 cases, 5,445 negative test results and 17 deaths in the 10-county region.
Stay tuned to News talk 104.1 & 1600 WEJS and talkwilliamsport.com for developments on this story.
