KCHD learns dozens of COVID-19 deaths went unreported since December KCHD said there were 44 additional COVID-19 deaths that occurred during the winter surge, but only learned about them recently due to a change in state reporting. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 1:29 PM EST March 11, 2021 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Health Department on Thursday fixed a discrepancy in its COVID-19 data reporting after learning dozens of deaths from the virus that occurred during the winter surge went unreported from the state. KCHD said it became aware of a process change on the state level that led to the department not being directly notified of 44 Knox County residents who died to COVID-19 between December 2020 and February 2021. It said these were deaths confirmed by state medical examiners and counted in the statewide total, but were never reported directly to Knox County.