The coronavirus pandemic has reduced the average life expectancy of the United States by more than a year in 2020, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
study projects that life expectancy fell by 1.13 years in 2020 after the coronavirus took the lives of more than 300,000 Americans.
According to the study, the life expectancies of Latino and black populations have decreased significantly compared to white populations. White life expectancy is projected to decrease by 0.68 years, while black life expectancy will decrease by 2.10 years, and Latino life expectancy by 3.05 years.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, black and Latino communities have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus both financially and in their personal health. Black residents have a higher mortality rate and a higher share of coronavirus cases compared to the general population, according to the COVID follow-up project.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this year that black Americans are three times more likely to die of coronavirus than white Americans.
The study suggested that the reason for a disproportionate decrease in life expectancy could be due to economic factors.
“These groups are more likely than whites to occupy low-paying, low-paying jobs, often in the industries that suffered the greatest job losses during the pandemic, creating exceptionally high unemployment rates for both groups and the loss of jobs. probable health insurance, “the authors said.
The pandemic has nullified much of the progress made by the United States to improve life expectancy among the general population. Life expectancy has increased by about 10 years in the last 50 years, according to CNN. In 1959, life expectancy was 69.9, and in 2016 life expectancy was up to 78.9.
The coronavirus also canceled work to reduce the life expectancy gap between black and white populations. The study said their projections indicated a nearly 40% increase in the Black-White hope gap.
The news of the study comes as the United States continues to fight the coronavirus, even though two vaccine candidates have been made available to priority groups. The country recorded a record number of deaths in the last week, with the US recording more than 3,900 deaths on Thursday alone, according to The New York Times.