Fox News Host Claims NY Is “Inflating” Virus Deaths

Mediaite reports:

Fox News analyst Brit Hume raised eyebrows Thursday by circulating a Twitter thread — from a user who self-describes as an “extreme salesman” — claiming New York has “inflated” its death toll from the coronavirus.

Adam Townsend, who bills himself on Twitter as an “Investor” and “Extreme salesman,” started his thread by calling attention to the number of people who died from the virus but also had underling conditions. He concluded that the official death rate in New York City is “cooked.”

The Center for Disease Control and health experts have explained in the past that people are “at higher risk for severe illness from Covid-19” if they are older or if they have serious pre-existing medical conditions.

Very informative thread. Explains why NY’s Covid 19 fatality numbers are inflated. They dont’t distinguish between those who die with the disease and those who die from it. https://t.co/Hbdud2ppSI

— Brit Hume (@brithume) April 1, 2020

I’m not sure that counts as “inflated.” If someone with another condition dies because of Coronavirus-caused complications, that should qualify, imo. In other words, if a person dies, who would still be alive if not for Coronavirus, that’s a Coronavirus death. Disagree?

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 1, 2020