COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review: Interpretive Summary for January 27, 2023

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Counting COVID-19 Deaths
• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Description:
  Counting COVID-19 Deaths
  
  Accurate, transparent, and accessible data are critical to understanding any illness, outbreak, or public health threat. CDC’s goal is to provide actionable information to public health professionals and the American public. However, CDC recognizes that misunderstandings about COVID-19 death data have led to claims that COVID-19 deaths in the United States are being overcounted. In this week’s issue, we will clarify how hospitalization and death data are collected and reported.
  
  It’s time to pick out your costume and get ready to celebrate Halloween! Over the past two-plus years, we’ve learned new ways to enjoy pandemic holidays, and “outside is always safer” has been the mantra for these holiday gatherings. Luckily, that’s easy to do on Halloween, because trick-or-treating generally involves plenty of outdoor time. But that doesn’t mean it’s totally risk-free. Here are some more tips for staying COVID-safe this Halloween.
  
  • Stay home if you’re sick. Skip the Halloween party if you aren’t feeling well.
  
  • Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
  
  • Take precautions in crowded or indoor events as informed by your county’s COVID-19 Community Level, like wearing a high-quality mask (and Halloween masks don’t count). Consider making the mask part of the costume—like a doctor, nurse, ninja, or cowboy.
  
  • If you’re hosting celebrations, review options for improving ventilation in your home. This can help you reduce virus particles in your home and keep COVID-19 from spreading.
  
  • Keep your hands clean. If you’re out trick-or-treating, bring hand sanitizer. If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.
  
  And of course, the best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness from COVID-19 on Halloween (and every day) is to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations! Use this tool to find out when you can get a booster.
  
  Note to Readers: On October 12, 2022, CDC recommended updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5 years and older in the United States, making the updated boosters available to millions of children in this age group.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Child Communicable Disease Control Coronavirus Infections/prevention & Control COVID-19 Vaccines COVID-19/mortality Infant Local Government Pandemics Public Health Public Health Practice Vaccination

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• Series:
  CDC COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review
• Document Type:
  Text
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e88e000e78dd98dad504f96f151cb45156af821de8ae0c10beab1141acfff4166859c5623ec0e2e0635d1492174a91f0cc29bea621f33fe503a6a9efcc0d3e9b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/124123/cdc_124123_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.93 MB ]