“Hospitals, physicians, and nursing homes report COVID-19 related deaths directly to MSDH for inpatients or residents that they have been providing care for and are COVID-19 positive,” Sharlot said. “COVID-19 is having an impact on a number of vulnerable populations with underlying medical problems. It is incumbent upon all of us to take COVID-19 seriously and take responsibility to put in place those measures to prevent transmission and protect the vulnerable populations. Each death that occurs is saddening and certainly we all wish there were fewer.”