The CDC changed COVID-19 deaths to include anyone that dies while being a "probable case" on April 11th. Before April 11th, the only COVID-19 deaths that were counted to the total was people that tested positive, then died for any reason.

Obviously, this is not perfectly accurate. For example, a person that dies from a bullet to the head after testing positive would be counted as a COVID-19 death prior to April 11th. However, the redefinition caused all "probable" cases to be counted as COVID-19 cases, and any that die while being "probable" is counted as a COVID-19 death.

After April 11th (and assuming states decided to comply with the CDC's redefinition), what was previously one case became 16. On May 11th, Texas decided to adopt the CDC's redefinition, and their DHS started calling on the various counties to obey the new process. Collin County initially resisted this by holding this meeting on May 18th (if you want the infographic they used, you can find it here). On June 1st, Collin County was forced to comply, and their cases and deaths skyrocketed. Why? Because the new system deemed Texas endemic to COVID-19, meaning anyone in Texas that shows any signs, like coughing or sweating, could be deemed a probable case. Another rule is that if you've been in close contact with a probable case, you also become a probable case.

We should also not forget that the COVID-19 test only tests for the entire branch of coronaviruses, as admitted by the CDC here. What else is a coronavirus? The common cold. Therefore, if you have a cold and get tested, you'll test positive, and then the new probable cases rule makes all coworkers and family you've interacted with for the last month probable cases, adding to the total number of new cases and counting their death toward COVID-19 as well.

The CDC changed COVID-19 deaths to include anyone that dies while being a "probable case" on April 11th. Before April 11th, the only COVID-19 deaths that were counted to the total was people that tested positive, then died for any reason.

Obviously, this is not perfectly accurate. For example, a person that dies from a bullet to the head after testing positive would be counted as a COVID-19 death prior to April 11th. However, the redefinition caused all "probable" cases to be counted as COVID-19 cases, and any that die while being "probable" is counted as a COVID-19 death.

After April 11th (and assuming states decided to comply with the CDC's redefinition), what was previously one case became 16. On May 11th, Texas decided to adopt the CDC's redefinition, and their DHS started calling on the various counties to obey the new process. Collin County initially resisted this by holding this meeting on May 18th (if you want the infographic they used, you can find it [here](this infographic). On June 1st, Collin County was forced to comply, and their cases and deaths skyrocketed. Why? Because the new system deemed Texas endemic to COVID-19, meaning anyone in Texas that shows any signs, like coughing or sweating, could be deemed a probable case. Another rule is that if you've been in close contact with a probable case, you also become a probable case.

We should also not forget that the COVID-19 test only tests for the entire branch of coronaviruses, as admitted by the CDC here. What else is a coronavirus? The common cold. Therefore, if you have a cold and get tested, you'll test positive, and then the new probable cases rule makes all coworkers and family you've interacted with for the last month probable cases, adding to the total number of new cases and counting their death toward COVID-19 as well.