Maria Caspani

NEW YORK (Reuters), The United States has recorded over 1 million deaths from COVID-19, according to a Reuters tally. It is a milestone that was previously unimaginable, coming just two years after first cases shocked the world and transformed lives.

It is an eloquent reminder of how devastating the pandemic has been for many, even though the danger posed by it diminishes in people’s minds. This is about 1 death per 327 Americans. That’s more than all of San Francisco and Seattle combined.

The virus claimed the lives of 36 Americans by the time that the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 an international pandemic (March 11, 2020). Over the next months, the virus spread rapidly, often finding new homes in densely-populated cities like New York City. It then reached every corner of the nation.

In June 2020, US death tolls had reached the level of World War One’s total military deaths. By January 2021 it was expected that the U.S. military loss of World War Two would be greater than the American Military Losses of War World Two. More than 405,000 people died in those two wars.

With 6.7 million deaths confirmed worldwide, the disease left no place on Earth unaffected. According to the WHO, this number includes those who succumbed to COVID-19 and those who were indirectly affected by the disease. It is likely that the true death toll was closer to 15 millions.

Images associated with COVID mortality are forever burned into the collective memory of Americans. These images include refrigerated trucks outside of hospitals full of dead patients; hospitalized intubated patient in sealed-off ICUs; and exhausted doctors, nurses, who endured every stage of the disease.

Millions upon millions eagerly received COVID vaccines shortly after they were distributed in the latter part of 2020. The virus claimed the lives of a shocking 500,000 people by early 2021.

In January 2001, COVID-19 was a leading cause of death for more people than the 9/11 attacks.

COVID-19 was a deadly disease that targeted the elderly and people with poor health. However, it also killed more than 1000 children. Researchers estimate 213,000 U.S. children https://imperialcollegelondon.github.io/orphanhood_calculator/#/country/United%20States%20of%20America lost at least one parent or primary caregiver during the pandemic, taking an immeasurable emotional toll.

Coronavirus can be found in major cities and has also affected rural communities that have limited access to health care.

It had an disproportionate effect on communities of color and native communities. People who lived in congregate environments, like prisons, were more affected and many families lost their lives. It revealed inequalities deep-rooted within American society. This led to a tsunami of changes that impacted all aspects of American’s lives.

Many Americans are now able to return to work after their masks have fallen off, as the COVID-19 danger has subsided following the Omicron waves last winter. The bars and restaurants in the area are once more crowded with people, so attention is shifting to economic inflation.

Researchers are working to create a booster shot for the virus as it continues its mutation.

At a recent conference, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that “By no means it is over.” “We are still facing a global pandemic,”

TRACKING PANDEMIC

It is difficult to track the COVID-19 epidemic. Reuters, as well as other organizations that make counts are reporting 1,000,000 deaths across the U.S. at different times. Each organization has its own way of counting COVID deaths. This is why there are so many variations. Reuters for instance includes probable and confirmed deaths, where such data are available.

     The precise toll of the pandemic may never be truly known. Many people who died from the pandemic were not tested so are not in this report. Some people with COVID-19 died due to other causes, including cancer. They were nevertheless counted.

According to the CDC, 1.1 million extra deaths occurred since February 1, 2020 due primarily to COVID. The increase in deaths from all causes, when compared to previous years, is called excess mortality.

    You can read more about the Reuters methodology for tracking COVID cases and deaths here: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/en/methodology/

    You can find more information on CDC excess deaths here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm