Health Department data shows lag in death totals

CASPER – When the Wyoming Department of Health announces that more COVID-19 patients in the state have died from the disease, it is often announcing deaths that actually occurred weeks if not months before.

The lag in reporting is a result of the time it can take for death certificates to be filed, department spokeswoman Kim Deti said.

The department does not count a patient as a coronavirus death unless COVID-19 has been listed on his or her death certificate as the cause of death or a contributing factor. And the time it takes for those certificates to be filed has always varied, even b...