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Florida Health Officials Question COVID-19 Death Data

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees, center, speaks to the media as he is flanked by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, left, Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from left, and Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson, right, during a news conference Monday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees, center, speaks to the media as he is flanked by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, left, Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from left, and Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson, right, during a news conference Monday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MIAMI — Florida health officials held off of releasing their normal coronavirus update Wednesday as they announced a more thorough review of all fatalities reported to the state.

Fatality data reported to the state consistently present confusion and warrant a more rigorous review, according to a Florida Department of Health news release. Of the 95 fatalities reported to the state Tuesday, which would have been released publicly Wednesday, 11 of the deaths occurred more than a month ago. Also, 16 deaths had more than a two-month separation between the time the individuals tested positive and passed away, and five of those had a gap of more than three months.

"During a pandemic, the public must be able to rely on accurate public health data to make informed decisions," Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said in a statement. "To ensure the accuracy of COVID-19 related deaths, the Department will be performing additional reviews of all deaths. Timely and accurate data remains a top priority of the Department of Health."

Palm Beach County had 50 of the 95 coronavirus deaths reported Tuesday, health officials said. That nearly doubled a previous one-day record of 27 deaths in August.

Since the outbreak began in Florida in March, the state has recorded more than 760,000 cases - just behind the country's two most populous states, California and Texas. Health officials reported more than 16,300 people have died from Florida cases.

The Associated Press is a wire service to which WUFT News subscribes.