Pandemic will push U.S. mortality up through 2023, new government report predicts
WASHINGTON - The federal government expects U.S. mortality rates to be elevated by 15% over pre-pandemic norms in 2021 and not return to normal levels until 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
The trustees concluded that these elevated mortality rates, along with lower immigration and depressed fertility rates, have had a significant effect on the trust funds supporting both programs in the short term. But the virus' long-term effects on America's retirement and healthcare systems remain unclear, as the pandemic still appears far from over.
More than 600,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus pandemic that began in early 2020, and case levels have increased in recent weeks, leading to projections of a spike in deaths later this year. Deaths are also increasing but vaccinations against the virus should keep total mortality well below peak levels of more than 3,300 per day that the nation experienced in January, experts believe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that since Feb. 1, 2020 the United States has suffered between 613,000 and 783,000 more deaths than it typically would in that time. These deaths are from covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and other causes.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pandemic-push-u-mortality-2023-210408874.html