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COVID-19 is now the USA's biggest killer

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The uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in the USA means it is currently the leading cause of death in the country, overtaking heart disease and cancer, according to a 'Viewpoint' article by US scientists. Between November 1st 2020, and December 13th, average daily COVID-19 deaths tripled, from 826 to 2,430 deaths per day, they say. As occurred in the spring, COVID-19 has become the leading cause of death (daily mortality rates for heart disease and cancer, which are usually the two leading causes of death, are approximately 1,700 and 1,600 respectively). COVID-19's lethality may increase further as transmission increases with holiday travel and gatherings and with the intensified indoor exposure that winter brings, they warn.

Journal/conference: JAMA

Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jama.2020.24865

Organisation/s: Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

Funder: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Media release

From: JAMA

COVID-19 as Leading Cause of Death in US

What The Viewpoint Says: This Viewpoint uses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data to compare the COVID-19 mortality rate in 2020 with prior leading causes of death (heart disease, cancer, lung disease and injury) to put into context the cost of the infection in loss of life in the United States.

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