Medical Examiner Surveillance of the COVID-19 Pandemic in King County, Washington, USA.

Abstract

The King County Medical Examiner's Office in Seattle, Wash, initiated a surveillance project with a dedicated team and database tracking the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and deaths occurring within 28 days of COVID-19 vaccination. From January 2020 through July 2022, the results of 13,801 nasal/nasopharyngeal swabs from 7606 decedents tested for the virus were assembled in the surveillance database. Generally, 2 samples were collected and tested separately by 2 different laboratories. Positive rates increased from 5.7% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2022. Of 744 decedents positive for the virus, autopsies were performed on 418 (56%); of these, 106 (25%) died of COVID-19 as either the primary or a contributing cause. Comparison of autopsy findings of those dying of COVID-19 with those positive for the virus but dying of other causes demonstrated increased risk for those with preexisting conditions. Of 1035 deaths reported within 28 days of vaccination, the rates of thrombotic complications and myocarditis were no higher than in other decedents. This study provides evidence of the value to public health surveillance of an adequately resourced medical examiner office in tracking viral spread in the community, understanding disease mortality, and assessing vaccine safety.