US Virus Numbers Now Include Probable Cases Without Tests

A patient arrives in an ambulance cared for by medical workers wearing personal protective equipment due to COVID-19 concerns outside NYU Langone Medical Center in New York on Apr. 13, 2020. John Minchillo/AP

NEW YORK—The U.S. tally of CCP virus cases and deaths could soon jump because federal health officials will now count illnesses that are not confirmed by lab testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told states Tuesday to include probable COVID-19 cases in their reports to the agency. Previously, most states reported only lab-confirmed cases and deaths.