Missouri's COVID-19 Report Missing 80,000 Cases and 1,000 Deaths
The Hickory County Health Department reported 853 total local COVID-19 cases in its weekly update Friday, five more than a week earlier.
But residents of the southwest Missouri county who check the Department of Health and Senior Services dashboard for information would not have known that. Instead, they would see a cumulative 467 cases. Those that watch it closely would think only one case had been reported since Feb. 19.
Deaths are also a source of disagreement between the local and state reports. The county report shows 35 deaths, while the state dashboard reports 13.
The difference is something Administrator Dawn Vader has been dealing with for months. Her agency has done contact tracing on all 853 cases. She knows the count is accurate.
Read more: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/missouris-covid-19-report-missing-80000-cases-and-1000-deaths/Content?oid=35116826