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Carolina Curious: How Are COVID-19 Deaths Counted in Guilford County?

JOHN MINCHILLO/AP

As of Thursday, nearly 2,500 North Carolinians have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. More than 150 of those deaths were of Guilford County residents. A listener asked Carolina Curious how the county tallies those COVID-19 deaths, and why Guilford's mortality rate is higher than other North Carolina counties. We spoke with experts from Cone Health and the Guilford County Public Health Department to find the answers. 

How exactly does Guilford County count COVID-19 deaths?

It first depends on whether a person dies at home or in a hospital. If the death occurs in a medical facility, a doctor will determine the cause of death. If it happens at home, a medical examiner will step in. Under the state's

April Laissle is a senior reporter and editor at WFDD. Her work has been featured on several national news programs and recognized by the Public Media Journalists Association and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Before joining WFDD in 2019, she worked at public radio stations in Ohio and California.

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