Subtracting deaths from pandemic death toll a Sask. first

For the first time during the pandemic, authorities in Saskatchewan has removed three deaths from the total attributed to COVID-19.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Jennifer Graham said Friday that the three deaths were removed from the province's total because the standards and processes used to register deaths and their causes revealed the three people had died from causes other than COVID -19.

The deaths were removed even though all three people had tested positive for COVID -19. Two of the deaths happened in December, the other earlier this month.

“Given the urgent timelines required to keep Saskatchewan residents informed on the status of COVID-19, deaths of individuals who tested COVID positive are reported as soon as possible,” Graham said in an email.

“There are separate standards and processes that are followed to register deaths and their causes.”

Saskatchewan defines COVID -19 deaths by sticking nearly word for word to the World Health Organization standards.

Graham's email said COVID-19 deaths in Saskatchewan cover those that result from a “clinically compatible illness in a COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear and immediate alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID -19 (e.g., trauma).”

Public Health Agency of Canada spokeswoman Anna Maddison said provinces do sometimes adjust data after it is released.

If the cause of death was unrelated to COVID the case would be removed from our death count.

“PHAC receives data from the provinces and territories on a near daily basis,” she said in an email. “At times, revisions to data may be made after jurisdictions report to PHAC. Where discrepancies exist, data posted to provincial and territorial websites and dashboards should be considered definitive.” Maddison added there are “slight variations” in how provinces and territories report on COVID-19 deaths, but declined to provide a breakdown.

These variations include deaths where COVID-19 was deemed to be the cause or a contributing factor and all deaths of people diagnosed with COVID-19.

As of Friday, Saskatchewan had recorded 247 COVID -19 deaths; as of Thursday, Canada had reported 18,622.

Manitoba and Alberta appear to be taking the same approach as Saskatchewan.

Manitoba government spokeswoman Kailey Mccaffery said in an email that deaths are removed “from time to time” in instances such as a death recorded after someone had recovered from COVID-19 or a fatality deemed not a resident of the province. Alberta Health spokesman Tom Mcmillan said such removals are “rare,” but do happen as each death attributed to COVID-19 is reviewed. In initial reporting, Alberta includes all deaths of those where COVID-19 is determined to be a factor and all of those diagnosed with COVID-19.

“If the cause of death was unrelated to COVID — for example, if an individual who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 dies in a car crash — the case would be removed from our death count,” Mcmillan said.

A May 26 news release noted COVID-19 deaths must be confirmed by the medical health officer to ensure they meet the criteria before they can be reported.