INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION (CODING) OF COVID-19 AS CAUSE OF DEATH - UPDATE

This document describes certification and classification (coding) of deaths related to COVID-19. The primary goal is to identify all deaths due to COVID-19. A simplified section (section 3) specifically addresses the persons who fill in the medical certificate of cause of death.

It may be distributed to certifiers separate from the coding instructions. The coding guidelines are very technical and only include some template cases. Questions may arise in daily work due to the inexorable richness of medical language and practice in certification. Support can be provided through the closest WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre or icd@who.int.

The May 2025 document replaces previous guidelines issued in April 2020 and January 2021.