Since the COVID-19 started earlier this year, several media outlets have been showing the total number of COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19 deaths as graphic counters on the news.
While these numbers are important, it’s equally important to track the total death count and compare it against former years. This macro comparison puts into perspective the gravity of attention and resources we are putting into the combat of one cause of death.
The focus of many news graphics above is the amount of COVID-19 cases or the amount of COVID-19 deaths. We all recognize COVID-19 is real and a significant infectious disease. What’s missing is comparison data to previous years and comparisons to total death count.
Our team has taken some time to gather the numbers together for the total death count for California up until May 2020.
As decision makers are making decisions about our future, including politicians, school boards, and business owners executives, the Total Death Count data number should be more widely used as a statistic to make major decisions.
In the death count numbers below we can see the normal variance of death in California per month is between 20,000 and 28,000 over the past three years. 2020 shows the same normal pattern with no significant spikes.
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Source:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Vital Statistics Branch
Data Sources:
California Comprehensive Master Death File (Static), 2017-2018.
Preliminary California Comprehensive Death File (Static), 2019. Data compiled: April 1, 2020.
California Comprehensive Death File (Dynamic), 2020. Date extracted: June 18, 2020
Report Produced: June 19, 2020
Technical Data Notes
Deaths: Counts are based on the date that the death occurred.
Geography: Counts are reported statewide and for each county based on where the death occurred. Counts exclude out-of-state deaths to California residents.
Frequency: Counts are reported based on the month in which the death occurred.
Completeness: Reported deaths for 2019 and 2020 represent provisional counts based on the records available when the data was retrieved and may not represent all deaths that occurred during the time period.
As a result, counts may differ from other published death data.
Data Suppression
Death counts less than 11 have been suppressed to protect the privacy of decedents in accordance with the California Health and Human Services Data De-identification Guidelines.
<11 indicates suppressed, nonzero counts, less than 11.