Characteristics of Persons Who Died With COVID-19—United States, February 12–May 18, 2020
Jonathan M. Wortham, James T. Lee, Sandy Althomsons, Julia Latash
Abstract
During January 1, 2020–May 18, 2020, approximately 1.3 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 83,000 COVID-19–associated deaths were reported in the United States. Demographic and clinical data about COVID-19 cases are reported to CDC from 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, and US territories using a standardized case-report form or in aggregate. To collect more complete data on race/ethnicity, selected underlying medical conditions by age, and clinical course, CDC solicited supplementary information from medical charts and death certificates of decedents with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from state, territorial, and local public health departments. Regional and state level efforts to examine the roles of the factors in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and COVID-19-associated deaths could lead to targeted, community-level, mortality prevention initiatives.