The number of deaths in the United States from the Covid-19 pandemic has surpassed 1 million, undoubtedly the most of any country. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Data Center, there are 303 deaths from Covid-19 for every 100,000 residents in the United States. Of the 20 countries hardest hit by the outbreak, only Brazil has a higher death rate per 100,000 population.
Deaths as a direct result of Covid-19 are only one measure of the death toll from the pandemic. In 2021, overdose deaths will hit a record high, killing at least 100,000 Americans. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and dementia also contributed to the "excessive deaths" - a figure that includes deaths from other diseases exacerbated by the pandemic and as a direct result of Covid-19. That number crossed the 1 million mark in mid-February.
The high death toll sets the U.S. apart among similarly wealthy countries, and exposes its inequality, fragmented health care system and political polarization, all of which could worsen the crisis, the researchers said.