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Domestic study release

US COVID-19 Deaths Undercounted Study

Analysis based on 10 articles · First reported Mar 18, 2026 · Last updated Mar 18, 2026

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The study's findings highlight the significant undercounting of COVID-19 deaths, particularly among Hispanic people and people of color in certain US states. This information is important for public health policy and resource allocation, which can indirectly affect healthcare sector investments and economic stability in affected regions.

Healthcare Public Health

A new study published in Science Advances estimates that approximately 155,000 additional COVID-19 deaths went uncounted in the United States during 2020 and 2021, primarily outside of hospitals. The study, co-authored by United States — Wrigley Field of University of Minnesota and senior author Vern Stokes of Boston University, used artificial intelligence to analyze death certificates. It revealed significant disparities, with Hispanic people and other people of color in states like United States — Alabama, United States — Oklahoma City, and United States — North Carolina being disproportionately affected. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University commented on the persistent barriers to care. The United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's official count is over 1.2 million COVID-19 deaths. The accuracy of death counts has been a subject of debate, with figures like Donald Trump contributing to false claims of inflated numbers, which X (social network) later removed.

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Vern Stokes of Boston University is the senior author of the paper, highlighting the antiquated death investigation system as a key reason for inaccurate counts.
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Steven Woolf, a researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, provided commentary on the study's findings regarding access to care.
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United States — Wrigley Field, an author of the study from the University of Minnesota, explained reasons for uncounted deaths, such as lack of at-home testing.
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