The Los Angeles Times reports that COVID-19 has eclipsed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Los Angeles County.
“There’s been tremendous tragedy and suffering here, and across the world. And to all who are mourning, we are with you in your sorrow,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer tells the Times.
Prior to the virus’ outbreak, coronary heart disease was the number one cause of death, but coronavirus surpasses it by double the number of deaths in the last year.
COVID-19 is not just the leader in deaths in LA County, the pandemic has caused it to be a nationwide issue.
The Peterson Health Tracker reports that “Looking at the most recent data on deaths from COVID-19 and other causes, it becomes clear that COVID-19 is currently the number one cause of death in the United States. As of February 20, 2021, an average of more than 2,400 people per day died of COVID-19 in the U.S. during February 2021.”
In an article written by scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University, “The failure of the public and its leaders to take adequate steps to prevent viral transmission has made the nation more vulnerable, allowing COVID-19 to become the leading cause of death in the United States, particularly among those aged 35 years or older. Much of this escalation was preventable.”