U.S. Records Deadliest Week Since Start Of Coronavirus Pandemic

Topline

With another 1,522 Americans killed by the coronavirus on Monday, an average of 2,259 people per day have died due to Covid-19 in the United States over the past week, which according to the New York Times database, makes it the deadliest weeklong period in the country since the start of the pandemic, as the virus continues its destructive surge throughout the U.S.

Key Facts

Key Background:

The Times report notes that when the pandemic first reached the U.S., it was concentrated almost solely in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and New York City. However, the middle of the country is currently under siege. The states with the five highest total reported cases by per capita are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Nonetheless, populous coastal cities are also dealing with a destructive second wave. More than 27,000 new cases were reported in California on Monday, and on Tuesday morning, the state confirmed its 20,000th Covid-related death. Over the past week, there has been an average of 23,139 new cases per day in California, a whopping 82% increase from the average only 14 days earlier. 

Tangent:

A report published last Friday by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that Covid-19 was the leading cause of mortality in the United States last week. And the institute’s latest model expects the total death toll to exceed 535,000 by the end of March, with daily deaths projected to peak at 3,000 in mid-January.

Big Number:

15,813: That’s how many Americans have been killed by Covid-19 over the past week. 

Further Reading:

Most U.S. COVID Deaths In One Day (3,100) As Latest Model Projects 539,000 By April (Forbes) 

California reports its 20,000th Covid death (NBC)

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