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Hopkins County COVID data/ DSHS
Emergency management: report is a 'glitch'
Hopkins County has experienced its fifth death from COVID-19, according to the State Department of State Health Services (DSHS). However, according to local emergency management, the state is incorrect and the county has not experienced a death.
On approximately July 23, a death was added to Hopkins County’s data, according to DSHS. However, it was only noticeable on the public-facing website beginning July 29.
On July 29 at 5 p.m., Hopkins County emergency management reported they were aware the death showed on the DSHS website.
Emergency management coordinator Andy Endsley stated he verified with regional authorities there was no death in Hopkins County.
“The state is changing up the way they report some things,” Endsley stated. “We don’t know if there’s some glitches in that side of it.”
According to DSHS, deaths are recorded in a county based on a death certificate which lists COVID-19 as the cause of death.
“A fatality is counted as a COVID-19 fatality when the medical certifier attests on the death certificate that COVID-19 is the cause of death,” DSHS stated.
At 9 a.m. on July 31, the state still showed a death in Hopkins County.
"Hopefully we get it removed pretty quick," Endsley said.
This is the fifth instance in which emergency officials claim a death in Hopkins County is not COVID-19 related, despite state claims (see related story “State removes fourth Hopkins County death.”)