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That language says nothing about whether a positive test is required to attribute a death to COVID-19.

Here is the CDC's policy:

> In cases where a definite diagnosis of COVID–19 cannot be made, but it is suspected or likely (e.g., the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty), it is acceptable to report COVID–19 on a death certificate as “probable” or “presumed.”

There is also a lack of consistency between how states count deaths: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/which-deaths-c...