In just weeks, covid-19 deaths have snowballed from a few isolated cases to thousands across the country each day.
The U.S. surgeon general had warned that last week would be like Pearl Harbor as he attempted to create context for the threat — but it turned out that more than five times as many Americans died from covid-19 last week than were killed in the World War II raid.
[How many people have died from coronavirus in the U.S.]
You can grasp the scale when you compare a single week’s pandemic deaths with how many people die of major causes in a typical week.
Coronavirus kills more
than most other causes
Covid-19 killed more people from April 6 to April 12 than any other cause of death except heart disease typically does in a normal April week.
#1
Heart
disease
12,626
#2
Covid-19
12,392
#3
Cancer
11,437
Chronic lower
respiratory disease
3,279
Accidents
2,911
Strokes,
brain
aneurysms
2,764
Alzheimer’s
2,184
Diabetes
1,586
Flu, pneumonia
1,227
Kidney disease
998
Suicide
876
Coronavirus kills
more than most
other causes
#1
Heart
disease
Covid-19 killed more people from April 6 to April 12 than any other cause of death except heart disease typically does in a normal April week.
12,626
#2
Covid-19
Chronic
lower
respiratory
disease
12,392
3,279
#3
Cancer
11,437
Accidents
2,911
Strokes,
brain
aneurysms
Pneumonitis
399
2,764
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
572
2,184
High blood
pressure
649
Liver disease
Diabetes
779
1,586
Flu,
pneumonia
Septicemia
806
Kidney
disease
Suicide
1,227
876
998
#2
#1
Covid-19
12,392
Heart
disease
12,626
#3
Cancer
11,437
Coronavirus kills more
than most other causes
Covid-19 killed more people from April 6 to April 12 than any other cause of death except heart disease typically does in a normal April week.
Chronic
lower
respiratory
disease
3,279
Pneumonitis
399
Accidents
2,911
Parkinson’s
572
Strokes,
brain
aneurysms
High blood
pressure
649
2,764
Liver disease
779
Alzheimer’s
2,184
Diabetes
Septicemia
1,586
806
Suicide
876
Kidney
disease
Flu,
pneumonia
998
1,227
#2
#3
Covid-19
Cancer
11,437
12,392
Chronic
lower
respiratory
disease
#1
3,279
Heart
disease
Coronavirus kills more
than most other causes
12,626
Accidents
Covid-19 killed more people from April 6 to April 12 than any other cause of death except heart disease typically does in a normal April week.
2,911
Pneumonitis
Strokes,
brain
aneurysms
399
Parkinson’s
2,764
572
High blood
pressure
Alzheimer’s
649
2,184
Liver disease
779
Diabetes
1,586
Septicemia
806
Suicide
876
Flu,
pneumonia
Kidney
disease
998
1,227
In early and mid-March, when America began widespread closures, quarantines and social distancing, covid-19 caused many fewer deaths than other common causes — fewer in a week than chronic liver disease or high blood pressure, and far fewer than suicide or the common flu. By the end of March, the toll was closer to the average weekly deaths from diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Into April, weekly covid-19 deaths climbed past those from accidents and chronic lower respiratory disease. And last week, covid-19 killed more people than normally die of cancer in this country in a week. Only heart disease was likely to kill more people that week.
Some experts had predicted that the deaths could peak last week, but there is no decline this week, with new high tolls Tuesday (2,369) and Wednesday (2,441) and another 2,206 on Thursday. That means covid-19 is on pace to be the largest single killer of Americans this week.
March 16
to March 22
Covid-19
337 deaths
The first U.S. coronavirus death was on Feb. 29. The country first saw more than 20 deaths from covid-19 per day the week of March 16. Compared with average weeks, the coronavirus didn’t yet rank among the top 15 causes of death.
March 23
to March 29
Covid-19
2,024 deaths
The United States recorded 128 coronavirus deaths on March 23, the first day with more than 100. By later that week, covid-19 was killing more than 400 people each day, and the total weekly deaths from covid-19 passed 2,000.
March 30
to April 5
Covid-19
7,095 deaths
March 30 was the first day that more than 500 people died of covid-19. Three days later, more than 1,000 Americans were dying every day of the disease. The death toll hasn’t been lower than that since.
April 6
to April 12
Covid-19
12,392 deaths
The week of April 6 to 12 marked the peak of deaths so far, with Friday, April 10, marking the first time any country registered over 2,000 deaths in one day attributed to the coronavirus.
March 16
to March 22
The first U.S. coronavirus death was on Feb. 29. The country first saw more than 20 deaths from covid-19 per day the week of March 16. Compared with average weeks, the coronavirus didn’t yet rank among the top 15 causes of death.
Covid-19
337 deaths
March 23
to March 29
The United States recorded 128 coronavirus deaths on March 23, the first day with more than 100. By later that week, covid-19 was killing more than 400 people each day, and the total weekly deaths from covid-19 passed 2,000.
Covid-19
2,024 deaths
March 30
to April 5
March 30 was the first day that more than 500 people died of covid-19. Three days later, more than 1,000 Americans were dying every day of the disease. The death toll hasn’t been lower than that since.
Covid-19
7,095 deaths
April 6
to April 12
The week of April 6 to 12 marked the peak of deaths so far, with Friday, April 10, marking the first time any country registered over 2,000 deaths in one day attributed to the coronavirus.
Covid-19
12,392 deaths
March 16
to March 22
March 23
to March 29
Covid-19
Covid-19
337 deaths
2,024 deaths
The first U.S. coronavirus death was on Feb. 29. The country first saw more than 20 deaths from covid-19 per day the week of March 16. Compared with average weeks, the coronavirus didn’t yet rank among the top 15 causes of death.
The United States recorded 128 coronavirus deaths on March 23, the first day with more than 100. By later that week, covid-19 was killing more than 400 people each day, and the total weekly deaths from covid-19 passed 2,000.
March 30
to April 5
April 6
to April 12
Covid-19
Covid-19
7,095 deaths
12,392 deaths
March 30 was the first day that more than 500 people died of covid-19. Three days later, more than 1,000 Americans were dying every day of the disease. The death toll hasn’t been lower than that since.
The week of April 6 to 12 marked the peak of deaths so far, with Friday, April 10, marking the first time any country registered over 2,000 deaths in one day attributed to the coronavirus.
March 16
to March 22
March 23
to March 29
The first U.S. coronavirus death was on Feb. 29. The country first saw more than 20 deaths from covid-19 per day the week of March 16. Compared with average weeks, the coronavirus didn’t yet rank among the top 15 causes of death.
The United States recorded 128 coronavirus deaths on March 23, the first day with more than 100. By later that week, covid-19 was killing more than 400 people each day, and the total weekly deaths from covid-19 passed 2,000.
Covid-19
Covid-19
337 deaths
2,024 deaths
March 30
to April 5
April 6
to April 12
March 30 was the first day that more than 500 people died of covid-19. Three days later, more than 1,000 Americans were dying every day of the disease. The death toll hasn’t been lower than that since.
The week of April 6 to 12 marked the peak of deaths so far, with Friday, April 10, marking the first time any country registered over 2,000 deaths in one day attributed to the coronavirus.
Covid-19
Covid-19
7,095 deaths
12,392 deaths
March 16
to March 22
March 23
to March 29
March 30
to April 5
April 6
to April 12
Covid-19
Covid-19
Covid-19
Covid-19
337 deaths
2,024 deaths
7,095 deaths
12,392 deaths
The first U.S. coronavirus death was on Feb. 29. The country first saw more than 20 deaths from covid-19 per day the week of March 16. Compared with average weeks, the coronavirus didn’t yet rank among the top 15 causes of death.
The United States recorded 128 coronavirus deaths on March 23, the first day with more than 100. By later that week, covid-19 was killing more than 400 people each day, and the total weekly deaths from covid-19 passed 2,000.
March 30 was the first day that more than 500 people died of covid-19. Three days later, more than 1,000 Americans were dying every day of the disease. The death toll hasn’t been lower than that since.
The week of April 6 to 12 marked the peak of deaths so far, with Friday, April 10, marking the first time any country registered over 2,000 deaths in one day attributed to the coronavirus.
Covid-19 is not killing at the same pace everywhere: In the worst-hit areas, it is killing at an unparalleled rate.
The weekly total of covid-19 deaths in New York state and New York City has dwarfed the scale of normal causes of death — explaining why hospitals are struggling to cope. And although the outbreaks in other cities aren’t as bad, Louisiana and the District of Columbia also had more covid-19 deaths than any typical cause of death last week. In places that started social distancing and restrictions on businesses earlier, the deaths per week are lower: Washington state suffered an early burst of the disease, but covid-19 did not kill as many people there last week as in other hot spots.
[How you can help during the coronavirus outbreak]
California has been spared the intensity of many other states. Covid-19 deaths there last week were well below the national rate.
In U.S. coronavirus hot spots, covid-19 is probably the leading cause of death
Number of covid-19 deaths the week of April 6 to April 12 compared with other causes of death in an average April week
New York state
New York City
Covid-19
5,226
Covid-19
3,850
Heart disease
870
Heart disease
337
Cancer
670
Cancer
244
Chronic lower resp.
148
Flu, pneumonia
44
Accidents
130
Accidents
41
Strokes, aneurysm
120
Diabetes
37
Louisiana
Washington, D.C.
Covid-19
364
Covid-19
28
Heart disease
211
Heart disease
26
Cancer
20
Cancer
182
Accidents
50
Accidents
7
Strokes, aneurysm
47
Strokes, aneurysm
5
Chronic lower resp.
37
Diabetes
3
Washington
California
Cancer
Heart disease
237
1,178
Heart disease
215
Cancer
1,127
Covid-19
170
Covid-19
332
Alzheimer’s
65
Strokes, aneurysm
294
Chronic lower resp.
60
Alzheimer’s
287
Accidents
59
Chronic lower resp.
273
New York state
New York City
Covid-19
5,226
Covid-19
3,850
Heart disease
870
Heart disease
337
Cancer
670
Cancer
244
Chronic lower resp.
148
Flu, pneumonia
44
Accidents
130
Accidents
41
Strokes, aneurysm
120
Diabetes
37
Louisiana
Washington, D.C.
Covid-19
364
Covid-19
28
Heart disease
211
Heart disease
26
20
Cancer
Cancer
182
Accidents
50
Accidents
7
Strokes, aneurysm
47
Strokes, aneurysm
5
Chronic lower resp.
37
Diabetes
3
Washington
California
Cancer
237
Heart disease
1,178
215
1,127
Heart disease
Cancer
Covid-19
170
Covid-19
332
Alzheimer’s
65
Strokes, aneurysm
294
Chronic lower resp.
60
Alzheimer’s
287
Accidents
59
Chronic lower resp.
273
New York state
New York City
Louisiana
Covid-19
5,226
Covid-19
3,850
Covid-19
364
Heart disease
870
Heart disease
337
Heart disease
211
Cancer
670
Cancer
244
Cancer
182
Chronic lower resp.
148
Flu, pneumonia
44
Accidents
50
Accidents
130
Accidents
41
Strokes, aneurysm
47
Strokes, aneurysm
120
Diabetes
37
Chronic lower resp.
37
Washington, D.C.
Washington
California
Cancer
Heart disease
Covid-19
28
237
1,178
Heart disease
Heart disease
215
Cancer
1,127
26
Cancer
20
Covid-19
170
Covid-19
332
Accidents
7
Alzheimer’s
65
Strokes, aneurysm
294
Strokes, aneurysm
5
Chronic lower resp.
60
Alzheimer’s
287
Diabetes
3
Accidents
59
Chronic lower resp.
273
New York state
New York City
Louisiana
5,226
Covid-19
Covid-19
3,850
Covid-19
364
870
Heart disease
Heart disease
337
Heart disease
211
670
Cancer
Cancer
244
Cancer
182
148
Chronic lower resp.
Flu, pneumonia
44
Accidents
50
Strokes, aneurysm
Accidents
130
Accidents
41
47
Strokes, aneurysm
120
Diabetes
37
Chronic lower resp.
37
Washington, D.C.
Washington
California
Cancer
Heart disease
Covid-19
28
237
1,178
Heart disease
26
Heart disease
215
Cancer
1,127
Cancer
20
Covid-19
170
Covid-19
332
Accidents
7
Alzheimer’s
65
Strokes, aneurysm
294
Strokes, aneurysm
5
Chronic lower resp.
60
Alzheimer’s
287
Diabetes
3
Accidents
59
Chronic lower resp.
273
New York state
New York City
Louisiana
Washington, D.C.
Washington
California
Covid-19
5,226
Covid-19
3,850
Covid-19
364
Cancer
237
Heart disease
1,178
Covid-19
28
Heart disease
870
Heart disease
337
Heart disease
211
Heart disease
26
Heart disease
215
Cancer
1,127
Cancer
20
Cancer
670
Cancer
244
Cancer
182
Covid-19
170
Covid-19
332
Chronic lower resp.
148
Flu, pneumonia
44
Accidents
50
Accidents
7
Alzheimer’s
65
Strokes, aneurysm
294
Accidents
130
Accidents
41
Strokes, aneurysm
47
Strokes, aneurysm
5
Chronic lower resp.
60
Alzheimer’s
287
Strokes, aneurysm
120
Diabetes
37
Chronic lower resp.
37
Diabetes
3
Accidents
59
Chronic lower resp.
273
These charts all compare covid-19 deaths with the normal numbers of deaths at this time of year in the country or in each particular state or city, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death counts are averages from that month over the last five years of data. It will take more than a year for epidemiologists and statisticians to calculate the final official toll of covid-19 and put it into perspective. Measured against typical deaths, however, covid-19 is already the greatest killer in many parts of the country.
[These simulations show how to flatten the curve]
