There remains confusion about how the Illinois Department of Public Health determines if COVID-19 was the primary factor in a person's death.
IDPH director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says it can be difficult because the virus causes multiple manifestations...especially involving the heart.
"These clots that are formed in association with COVID can result in strokes, can result in heart attacks. So, it's very hard to separate the respiratory illness from some of these other manifestations that also can link to COVID."
Ezike says it's also a challenge to track those who have recovered from the virus because they often lose contact with patients who were released from the hospital.