Two people died of COVID today? That’s not what the CDC said
Taiwan reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 today “and two deaths from the disease,” wrote news outlet Focus Taiwan, following the CDC Central Epidemic Command Center’s press briefing and press release today, Friday, August 13.
But the CDC did not say that two people had died of COVID-19. The CDC press release clearly stated that there were two deaths among the confirmed cases.
Furthermore, the CDC provided details about the two deaths stating that case 8852 was a man in his 80s with a history of chronic disease who was diagnosed June 1, released from isolation June 8, discharged from hospital June 26, and died on July 5 “due to other causes.”
The second fatality on the list of confirmed COVID-19 cases was a man in his 60s with a history of chronic disease who tested positive on June 21 and died on August 4. The man’s cause of death was not specified.
All deaths of COVID patients are added to the list of COVID fatalities regardless of the actual cause of death, the CDC has made clear at past press briefings.
“With regard to the number of COVID-19 deaths released on the Taiwan CDC website, we present counts of deaths from all causes of death, including COVID-19,” the CDC confirmed to Taiwan English News in an email dated July 27, 2021.
However, news reporters continue to insist that daily death numbers among those who have tested positive for COVID-19 constitutes “died from,” “died of,” or “died due to” COVID-19.
Other media omissions of what the man said
There were 14 cases of COVID-19 imported into the country today, CECC Commander, and Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-Chung said at today’s press briefing. This number was faithfully reported by news outlets Focus Taiwan, Taiwan News, and Radio Taiwan International.
What Chen said, and the above media outlets did not mention, is that 5 of the 14 who tested positive for COVID-19 upon entering the country were fully vaccinated.
Four of the COVID-positive imports had received two shots of the Pfizer BNT vaccine, and one was vaccinated with the Moderna shot, Chen further clarified.
While some reporters may deem such details unimportant, this information could be considered relevant when making policy decisions with regards to quarantine rules, and the value of “vaccine passports.”
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