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The manner in which the state Department of Health compiled and released data about COVID-19 deaths, it turns out, had its share of faults. Falsehoods, even.
Rather than reflecting where victims died, the numbers were based on the last residential addresses of those who died. So if somebody was living in Lycoming County and returned to a hotspot and then died there, the death was recorded as having happened here.
When local people saw the state release statistics claiming people died here, in an area that has been minimally impacted by people getting the coronavirus, it was alarming.
Then to find out it wasn't true -- how is a person supposed to react?
We stand with Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr., who waved the red flag this past week after the state announced those supposed deaths.
Kiessling had no knowledge of these deaths, even though the law says that coroners should know. This is important for coroners to keep track of information that affects public safety.
"From a public safety point, when we know the information, we can then help from continuing the spread," Kiessling said. "We can then quarantine family members and EMS or law enforcement, anyone who has had contact with the deceased. We can then make sure there are appropriate measures in place."
On top of retracting the two deaths listed for Lycoming County, the state retracted another 268 deaths from elsewhere in the state late in the week.
We deserve accurate statistics. In fact, our health may depend on them.