The United States has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year now, and during this time, there have been numerous reports of deaths attributed to the virus. However, it's essential to understand that only confirmed cases are included in case and death counts, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO receives data from various countries around the world, including the United States. The organization's statistical reporting system is designed to provide accurate and timely information on COVID-19 cases and deaths. However, it's important to note that significant data errors detected or reported to WHO may be corrected at more frequent intervals.

This could lead to the appearance of significant spikes or negative values in the reported death toll. These discrepancies are verified and validated by WHO to ensure the accuracy of the data. All COVID-19 data is subject to continuous verification and may change based on retrospective updates to accurately reflect trends, changes in country case definitions, and/or reporting practices.

So, what does it mean when we talk about 'confirmed' and 'reported' cases of COVID-19? In the context of WHO's statistical reporting, confirmed cases refer to those that have been laboratory-confirmed through testing. Reported cases, on the other hand, represent the date of reporting as opposed to the date of symptom onset.

For instance, if a person tests positive for COVID-19 on March 1st but begins showing symptoms on February 20th, their case would be reported as occurring on March 1st, not February 20th. This is because the WHO's data system tracks cases based on the date they are reported to the organization.

In conclusion, understanding how COVID-19 death data is collected and reported is crucial in order to accurately track the spread of the virus and make informed decisions about public health measures. By acknowledging the potential for data errors and verifying information through continuous verification and validation, we can work towards a more accurate picture of the pandemic's impact on the United States.

Countries that are not member states of the WHO include:

* United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

* Occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

* Northern Mariana Islands (Commonwealth of the)

* Kosovo (In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999))

Us covid deaths by date