All articles tagged with #covid deaths
China's population continued to decline in 2023, with deaths rising to 11.1 million, likely due to an increase in Covid-related fatalities after the country ended strict pandemic measures. The birth rate also continued to fall, contributing to the ongoing demographic challenges faced by the nation.
Recent data from the CDC reveals that only 1.7% of reported Covid deaths in the week ending August 19 were primarily caused by the virus, indicating a drastic decline from the peak of the pandemic. The majority of deaths listed Covid as a secondary cause, with cancer and heart diseases being the leading primary causes of death. Some states have higher rates of Covid deaths, and new highly transmissible variants are causing an increase in infections and hospitalizations. Despite this, Covid deaths remain low. Mask mandates have been reinstated in some places, and President Biden may recommend booster vaccines in the future.
According to official data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 99% of reported Covid deaths are not primarily caused by the virus. Only 1.7% of the 324 Covid deaths registered in the week ending August 19 listed the virus as the primary cause of death. The majority of deaths listed Covid as a secondary cause, with other underlying conditions being the primary cause. This data comes as new highly transmissible Covid variants circulate, leading to more infections and hospitalizations, and causing the reimplementation of some mask mandates. However, Covid deaths are not rising quickly despite the increase in infections.
Many deaths during the Covid pandemic were not properly counted, including those who died from undiagnosed illnesses such as acute diabetes, leukaemia, other cancers, and acute coronary thrombosis. Pregnant women were also among the casualties. Despite efforts to bring attention to these "collateral Covid deaths," public health officials were not interested in collecting autopsy reports or acknowledging the indirect impact of the pandemic.
COVID deaths in California have dropped by 65% in the last three months, with an average of 540 deaths in March. The decline is attributed to a less virulent virus, high immunity from infections and vaccinations, and the use of Pfizer's anti-viral medication, Paxlovid. However, the elderly and those with compromised health remain at risk. Experts warn that COVID outbreaks are still possible, and it is getting harder to track the virus's prevalence in the community. Wastewater data and hospitalizations show a continued decline of community spread in the Bay Area, but daily COVID tests are being logged in the lowest numbers since tests were being rationed in the first months of the pandemic.
The US has recorded its lowest weekly Covid death toll since March 2020, with 1,160 deaths reported in the week to April 19, 2023. This is lower than the number of weekly deaths from fentanyl, which has surged in recent years. Six states recorded no Covid deaths in the latest week. Experts say that the worst of the pandemic is over, but the World Health Organization has yet to declare it officially ended. The Biden administration has announced another $5bn for Covid vaccine research, and an annual booster vaccine is expected to be offered. The biggest risk at present is a new variant that can dodge current immunity.