COVID-19-Linked Deaths Mainly in Seniors in May to August 2020

Research published in the early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicates that COVID-19-associated deaths occurred primarily among older adults and in certain racial and ethnic minorities from May to August 2020. According to Medical Xpress , there were 114,411 COVID-19-associated deaths reported during the study period, and, 78.2 percent and 53.3 percent of the deceased were 65 or older and male — and 51.3 percent, 24.2 percent, and 18.7 percent were non-Hispanic White, Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic black, respectively. COVID-19-associated deaths declined from 37,940 in May to 17,718 in June, followed by a surge to 30,401 in July and a reduction to 28,352 in August. "These results can inform public health messaging and mitigation efforts focused on prevention and early detection of infection among disproportionately affected groups so as to minimize subsequent mortality," the authors concluded.