Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended New York's death count during the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday, following a report by the Associated Press that said the state may have undercounted the number of deaths from the disease by as many as 11,000 people.
The AP reports that, according to data New York state provided to the federal government on the number of deaths from COVID-19, the CDC said around 54,000 New Yorkers have passed away so far during the pandemic. But the state Department of Health lists around 43,000 deaths from the disease.
Cuomo was asked about the discrepancy at a news conference Wednesday.
“We have always reported lab-tested results,” Cuomo said. “CDC asks for additional information.”
Cuomo said the state gives the federal agency data about presumed deaths due to COVID and leaves it to the federal government to report that tally.
The AP found other states, including California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, reported death numbers that mirror the CDC numbers and counted all cases where COVID is either the cause of death or a contributing factor.