Hero Image

Kerala stands by its Covid-19 death count norms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department has decided not to reconsider existing norms for determining Covid-19 deaths in the state despite widespread criticism.


Health minister K K Shailaja said the department is following the international guidelines for certification and classification (coding) of Covid-19 as cause of death.

“Only those fatalities in which Covid-19 is the root cause can be determined as Covid-19 deaths. The state is implementing the most scientific method in determining such fatalities,” she said.

The policy has come in for much flak as it does not conform with guidelines issued by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and World Health Organization (WHO). The state excludes deaths of patients with comorbidities from its Covid-19 tally.

As per the official figures of the state health department, the Covid-19 death count is 139. However, experts point out that this is not the actual number. Unofficial statistics collected by experts have found that at least 236 deaths have occurred in the state till August 13.

As per these figures, Thiruvananthapuram has seen highest number of deaths in the state, at 42, followed by 29 in Ernakulam, 24 each in Malappuram and Kozhikode, 20 in Kasaragod, 19 in Kannur, 18 in Alappuzha and 16 in Kollam.

By contrast, the department’s tally show 30 deaths in Thiruvananthapuram, 22 in Ernakulam, 12 in Malappuram, 15 in Kozhikode, 14 in Kasaragod, 10 in Kannur, 8 in Alappuzha and 9 in Kollam till August 13.

The health minister is of the view that the existing death audit panel is doing its job and the controversy is unwarranted.

“Members of state public health unit, state medical board, institution medical board , state prevention of epidemics and infectious diseases cell are involved in the committee determining Covid-19 deaths,” Shailaja said.

“Just because a person tested positive for the coronavirus does not mean his/ her death should be considered a Covid-19 death. We can consider it so only if Covid-19 has led to the death. If a patient is brought dead to hospital, samples are taken to find out whether the patient is positive. The state is including only such deaths in the tally whose root cause is Covid-19,” she said.

At the time of death, three samples are taken from a person. In suspected cases, these are sent to NIV, Alappuzha for confirmation. The government has been carrying out testing and determining cause of death in the most scientific manner, the minister added.

READ ON APP