Between February 1 and September 26, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says many more people died of pneumonia in Kansas this year than of COVID. The CDC downloadable database shows that of the 18,232 deaths in Kansas this year, there were 1,219 pneumonia deaths, 709 COVID deaths, and 89 flu deaths, although additional deaths may not yet be reported to CDC. Their disclaimer says the time lag can range from 1 week to 8 weeks or more. The number of pneumonia and COVID deaths both increased by about 400 since we last reported the numbers in July.
Missouri also had more pneumonia deaths than COVID deaths (2,830 vs. 2,014) but adjusted for population (Missouri has about twice as many people as Kansas), the comparison looks much different. Both states have similar numbers of deaths per million of population for pneumonia (418 for Kansas, 461 for Missouri) and influenza (31 for Kansas, 29 for Missouri). Kansas has 243 COVID deaths per million compared to 328 for Missouri.
The CDC comparison table is one of several items updated today in Kansas Policy Institute’s COVID Information Center include:
- Comparative trends – cases, hospitalizations, and deaths for the State of Kansas, Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Kansas City, Missouri
- Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by age group for the State of Kansas, Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Sedgwick County, and Kansas City, Missouri
- Cases, deaths, mortality rate, and infection rate by county
- Case and death rate comparisons for all 50 states
- Statistics for COVID clusters identified by the state health department
- Hospital beds available in Kansas and regional states
- Cases and deaths by state
- COVID economic impact
Kansas Policy Institute is the Sentinel’s parent company.
