Why were they not doing this from the start? Will they be forced to change all the previous data and reported data and update their graphs?
A fatality is counted as due to COVID-19 when the medical certifier, usually a doctor with direct knowledge of the patient, determines COVID-19 directly caused the death. This method does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Death certificates are required by law to be filed within 10 days.
https://dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2020/20200727.aspx
DSHS improves COVID-19 fatality reporting. Texas #COVID19 fatalities are now counted from death certificates instead of local reports.#COVID19TX dashboard: https://t.co/ofycOL9lsp#DSHSNewsRelease: https://t.co/bJmXPu03iX pic.twitter.com/jCntaV3cRP
— Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) July 27, 2020