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LiberalArkie

(15,686 posts)
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 09:59 AM Apr 2020

Coroners worry Covid-19 test shortages could lead to uncounted deaths

(CNN)Jill Romann, the coroner in Douglas County, Colorado, was so desperate for coronavirus tests that she began calling hospitals in the middle of the night to avoid management, begging whoever was on duty for one or two test kits.

Her total collection reached about 13 before the hospitals caught on and shut her down.

She asked the state health department for help getting the tests needed to determine whether deaths were linked to the virus. But she said the agency told her it was not providing them to coroners because it was prioritizing the tests for the living. She hasn't been able to get the supplies she needs from private labs either.

"If you die in my county, I will not know if you died of Covid-19," Romann said. "I will, however, be able to tell if you legally smoked pot."


Snip

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/06/health/coronavirus-coroners-uncounted-deaths-invs/index.html

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lark

(23,003 posts)
2. This is what drumpf is counting on.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 10:03 AM
Apr 2020

He is trying to ensure low numbers, but maximum deaths and if they don't count towards his lack of reponse, bonus for him and that's what he's trying to drive.

Igel

(35,197 posts)
3. Locally there was a case where the coroner was pretty sure it was covid.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 10:14 AM
Apr 2020

So he ran the test.

The autopsy provided the evidence before the test confirmed it. (On the other hand, the government regulation's what's at issue here, to be honest.)

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
4. Christ, the coroner needs to read the CDC guidelines for postmortem specimen collection. Nothing
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 10:27 AM
Apr 2020

special is needed.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-postmortem-specimens.html

Why do they allow former funeral directors to become coroners?

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