How the Pandemic Increased US Deaths Visualized in Eight Charts

The emergence of Covid-19 five years ago marked one of the worst public health crises in modern history. During the pandemic’s first two years, life expectancy in the US plummeted by about 2.7 years— the steepest decline since World War II.

Here’s a closer look at these grim numbers.

Heart disease has long been the leading cause of death in the US and globally. The Covid pandemic worsened its effects.

Read more: Spike in Heart Disease Deaths Since Covid Is Puzzling Scientists

The pandemic also precipitated a surge in strokes and related conditions, driven by the ...