A total of 444 deaths were added to Chennai’s COVID-19 toll on Wednesday, based on the recommendations of a Death Reconciliation Committee. With the inclusion of the 444 deaths, the city’s toll increased to 1,939, while the State’s figure rose to 3,144. In line with these guidelines, the committee was constituted to reconcile COVID-19 deaths by comparing the details of deaths obtained from hospitals with those obtained from burial grounds. Of these, 444 deaths were identified. Though doctors were of the view that these deaths were due to underlying co-morbid conditions and not due to COVID-19, the government has decided to record all 444 deaths as COVID-19 deaths based on the Centre’s guidelines,” he said.

Source: The Hindu July 22, 2020 18:50 UTC