To the Editor, 

As a person who has loved science all his life, I find that I must write about the (March 13 Warwick Beacon) article entitled “When Hospital, Schools Struggled at Ground Zero.”

In the Beacon’s article, according to the state Department of Health, it’s reported that COVID caused 3,636 deaths in Rhode Island.

When I read about the statistics, I still wonder if those numbers are accurate.

During the pandemic, I listened to the radio at work and heard Gov. Gina Raimondo’s updates regarding COVID deaths. At the time, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott was director of the Department of Health.

One of the two reporters who usually asked pertinent questions asked if any of the deaths that occurred by other means, by vehicle accident, etc.,  and the person tested positive for COVID were still counted as a COVID death. Dr. Scott said yes.

How many other states and countries did the same thing? I doubt we’ll know for sure.

Jerry Ferreira
Warwick