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Difference in COVID death count in senior care facilities poses three-hour debate

By Tim Skubick and FOX 2 News Staff
Published  January 20, 2022 4:49pm EST
Gretchen Whitmer
FOX 2 Detroit

Michigan lawmakers debate best way to keep track of care facility Covid deaths during hearing in Lansing

Democrats and Republicans in Lansing debated what the best way to keep track of COVID-19 deaths in Michigan's longterm care facilities.

LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - On Jan. 20, there was a three-hour debate at the state capitol on the credibility of the COVID death numbers in seniors at long-term care facilities reported by the Whitmer administration.

The Whitmer administration has come under fire amid allegations that it did not count all of the senior citizen COVID deaths at long term care facilities. This is a charge the administration continues to reject, but legislative Republicans were not backing down from their criticism.  

Republicans accused the governor of under counting the deaths. The department and Democrats claimed the auditor had limitations that produced an overstated death count.

The Auditor General's office released a report this week revealing a difference in the reported numbers.

The Whitmer administration reported about 5,600 senior COVID deaths while the state Auditor General reported there to be just over 8,000.

The numbers are being considered "different" by Auditor General Ringler and not an over or undercount out of fair representation.

The numbers debate did not reach a resolution, but both sides agreed that a better reporting system is needed.