Did 50 people die of coronavirus in Ohio in the last 24 hours? Here’s what today’s data says

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — During Tuesday’s briefing on coronavirus in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine repeatedly mentioned 50 Ohioans dying from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. However, according to the latest information released by Ohio Department of Health (ODH), those 50 deaths didn’t all happen in one day.

The issue seems to be some confusion between the date a person dies, and the date the information is reported to the state by county health departments.

According to summary data released Tuesday by ODH:

• 4/14/2020 – 5 deaths
• 4/13/2020 – 10 deaths
• 4/12/2020 – 18 deaths
• 4/11/2020 – 10 deaths
• 4/10/2020 – 15 deaths

Compare to summary data released Monday:

• 4/13/2020 – 3 deaths
• 4/12/2020 – 11 deaths
• 4/11/2020 – 5 deaths
• 4/10/2020 – 12 deaths

The data also include deaths from earlier in the pandemic that were not previously reported.

On March 20, Governor DeWine announced the first confirmed death in the state from COVID-19, 76-year-old Mark Wagoner Sr., from Lucas County. Monday’s data release lists a Franklin County woman over the age of 80 as the first coronavirus death in Ohio, a day before Wagoner. Tuesday’s release adds a woman in her 70s from Cuyahoga County, dying another three days earlier.

Asked about the discrepancy during Tuesday’s briefing, Ohio Dept. of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said there may be a reporting lag involved.

“I don’t think people should be surprised. Deaths are going to lag infections. I think some low level of this is what we will expect,” said Dr. Acton.

The 50 deaths are denoted on ODH’s coronavirus dashboard under “current trends” as the total “last 24 hours deaths change.”

Coronavirus in Ohio resources: