Data

URL: https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/c43fd28d-3288-4ad2-87f1-a95abac706b8/resource/3273c977-416f-407e-86d2-1e45a7261e7b/download/deaths_fatality_type.csv

This dataset reports the daily reported number of deaths involving COVID-19 by fatality type.

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Data includes:

• Date on which the death occurred
• Total number of deaths involving COVID-19
• Number of deaths with “COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death”
• Number of deaths with “COVID-19 contributed but not underlying cause”
• Number of deaths where the “Cause of death unknown” or “Cause of death missing”

Additional Notes

The method used to count COVID-19 deaths has changed, effective December 1, 2022. Prior to December 1 2022, deaths were counted based on the date the death was updated in the public health unit’s system. Going forward, deaths are counted on the date they occurred.

On November 30, 2023 the count of COVID-19 deaths was updated to include missing historical deaths from January 15, 2020 to March 31, 2023.

CCM is a dynamic disease reporting system which allows ongoing update to data previously entered. As a result, data extracted from CCM represents a snapshot at the time of extraction and may differ from previous or subsequent results. Public Health Units continually clean up COVID-19 data, correcting for missing or overcounted cases and deaths. These corrections can result in data spikes and current totals being different from previously reported cases and deaths. Observed trends over time should be interpreted with caution for the most recent period due to reporting and/or data entry lags.

As of December 1, 2022, data are based on the date on which the death occurred. This reporting method differs from the prior method which is based on net change in COVID-19 deaths reported day over day.

Data are based on net change in COVID-19 deaths for which COVID-19 caused the death reported day over day. Deaths are not reported by the date on which death happened as reporting may include deaths that happened on previous dates.

Spikes, negative numbers and other data anomalies: Due to ongoing data entry and data quality assurance activities in Case and Contact Management system (CCM) file, Public Health Units continually clean up COVID-19, correcting for missing or overcounted cases and deaths. These corrections can result in data spikes, negative numbers and current totals being different from previously reported case and death counts.

Public Health Units report cause of death in the CCM based on information available to them at the time of reporting and in accordance with definitions provided by Public Health Ontario. The medical certificate of death is the official record and the cause of death could be different.

Deaths are defined per the outcome field in CCM marked as “Fatal”. Deaths in COVID-19 cases identified as unrelated to COVID-19 are not included in the number of deaths involving COVID-19 reported.

"Cause of death unknown" is the category of death for COVID-19 positive individuals with cause of death still under investigation, or for which the public health unit was unable to determine cause of death. The category may change later when the cause of death is confirmed either as “COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death”, “COVID-19 contributed but not underlying cause,” or “COVID-19 unrelated”.

"Cause of death missing" is the category of death for COVID-19 positive individuals with the cause of death missing in CCM.

Rates for the most recent days are subject to reporting lags

All data reflects totals from 8 p.m. the previous day.

This dataset is subject to change.