“Indeed it was a record year” (for deaths)

In the COVID year of 2020, there were a record-high number of overall deaths investigated by the Oconee County coroner, Karl Addis. The 25-year tracker of county deaths says, “Indeed (2020) was a record year for the office.”  The coroner’s office opened 408 death case files.  Reported hospice deaths numbered 494.  A total of 525 cremation permits were issued.  There were 764 burial removal transit permits issued by the Oconee coroner’s office for deaths that occurred at home, at incident locations, in hospice facilities, and in healthcare facilities.  A further breakdown of the coroner’s numbers:  14 traffic related deaths.  Those 14 were among 59 deaths ruled accidental.  There were seven Oconee County homicides in 2020.  There were 16 known suicides which, Addis says, is a typical number for Oconee in any year.