Covid-19’s Other Sobering Statistics
By: Robert Roy Britt
Tags: Covid 19, Coronavirus, Unemployment, Death, Stress

Image: Pixabay / Omni Matryx

Covid-19’s Other Sobering Statistics

A tale of American woe in 20 numbers

Beyond the more than 100,000 U.S. Covid-19 deaths, several numbers starkly reveal strife and stress that’s distributed unequally and not as routinely publicized. Here’s a snapshot of U.S. statistics at this sobering moment in time (each number links to the source of the data):

America’s global ranking on Covid-19 deaths.

Deaths accumulated in 90 days since the first one. This is more than the combined U.S. deaths in the Korean and Vietnam wars, both in total and on a per capita basis.

U.S. share of global Covid-19 deaths. The U.S. has 4.25% of the world’s population.

The year that began the last flu season in which more than 100,000 people died.

Deaths up through May 3 that could have been prevented had U.S. officials implemented social distancing policies one week sooner, according to a Columbia University study.

Mothers with children 12 and under who say that since the pandemic started, “the children in my household were not eating enough because we just couldn’t afford enough food.”

Adults who say they’ve experienced high levels of stress during the pandemic.

People who’ve died in nursing homes. It’s important to note that Covid-19 spares no age groups, though it is decidedly worse for people over age 65.

Healthcare workers killed by the disease.

Adults who say they feel anxious or nervous at least half the days of every week.

Deaths per 100,000 black people. Compares with 74.3 for Hispanics, 45.2 for whites, and 34.5 among Asians. This is no surprise to demographers and health-care experts, who’ll tell you that life expectancy varies dramatically based on disparities deeply rooted in geography, wealth, and race.

Deaths among black people in Chicago, who make up 30% of the city’s population.

Deaths among Native Americans in Arizona, who make up just 5% of the state’s population.

Unemployment among Hispanic and Latino workers as of May 8, vs. 16.7% for black workers and 14.2% for whites. In the past 10 weeks, 40 million people have filed for unemployment, according to the latest jobs report released today.

Unemployment among teenagers (more than double from the year prior).

Hispanic adults in households where at least one adult has lost their job or had income reduced, vs. 43% for the entire population.

People who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 who have died (however, the death rate varies wildly for younger people and older people, and is based only on diagnosed cases, not total cases).

Number of men and boys age 75 and younger who’ve died, compared to women and girls.

Americans who say they’re “pretty sure” they had Covid-19, though only 2% said that’s been confirmed by a test. Meanwhile, 20% know someone who has been hospitalized or died due to the disease, and that figure is 34% among black Americans.

Number of states where the number of new Covid-19 cases were rising as of this writing on May 28, 2020. Scientists expect additional substantial outbreaks of infection, anytime between this summer, this fall, and into 2022. all depending on the extent to which preventive measures are encouraged and followed.