Covid-19 and Life Expectancy in the U.S.
Since the end of World War II, this has been the largest single-year decline in the U.S. Americans of color lost 2.9 years of life expectancy, compared to non-Hispanic blacks and whites, who lost three years. Among white people, there was a 1.2-year drop in lifespan.
According to newly released federal data, U.S. life expectancy dropped by a year and a half in 2020, continuing a worrying trend that began in the first half last year, when the coronavirus pandemic devastated the country.
Approximately 600,000 Americans have ended up dead from COVID-19 since the outbreak began. But there’s a more nuanced figure lurking behind that huge number that brings the human toll of the virus into sharper focus.
In comparison to a large number of deaths for a sufficient reason, researchers can predict the amount of “life years” lost due to it. This statistic holds life expectancy into account. An 80-year-old dies at the age of 50. They have lost 30 years. Looking at this statistic shows just how many lives have been cut short by the virus.
According to a Pew Research Center analysis of preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus was responsible for approximately 380,000 deaths and 5.5 million years of lost life in the United States in 2020 alone. More life years are lost in a typical calendar year due to all accidents combined, including traffic accidents, drownings, shootings, and drug overdose and poisonings. The number of life-years lost in a typical calendar year due to liver disease or diabetes is more than triple that number of life years.
The significant number of lifespans lost due to COVID-19 in 2020 may not be highly praised because people ages 65 and older account for a massive proportion (approximately 80 percent ) of U.S. coronavirus deaths to date. Commentators say the public might think these seniors were already nearing their end of life anyway.
But life expectancy statistical data tells a different story. In reality, life expectancy rises with age. As per the United Nations World Population Prospects, infants born in the United States today may expect to live to be 79 years old, while Americans who are 65 today can survive longer to be 85 years old. Individuals who are now in their 80s might anticipate living into their 90s.
Covid-19 and Life Expectancy:
Essentially, the pandemic has taken the lives of many Americans who would have anticipated to live years or perhaps decades longer had it not been for the epidemic. Normal life expectancy for a person 65 years of age who dies from COVID-19 would have been 85 years. That’s a difference of two decades, or nearly a quarter of the average American’s total projected life span at birth.
Age-related variations in life expectancy are due to changes in the most frequent causes of mortality. A 65-year-old American will rarely die from violence, pregnancy problems, or congenital illnesses. Aside from COVID-19, older people are much more likely than younger Americans to die from heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
According to a study by the New York Times, nursing facilities are responsible for over a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S., even though they now account for just 4% of COVID-19 infections. This means those deaths could have been avoided. Losing a loved one can be a devastating experience, and seeking the help of a wrongful death attorney is the right choice when such an event takes place.
Elderly residents in nursing homes make up a big and dense population, many of whom have co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. In most nursing homes, group activities are encouraged, such as common dining rooms, board and card games, and arts and crafts and fitness courses.
A disease like COVID-19 can spread through these activities, particularly when susceptible individuals before they even show symptoms. After learning of COVID-19’s risks, most nursing homes ceased or rearranged patients’ interactions with outsiders, although many residents were not safeguarded quickly enough.
Coronavirus can be transmitted to nursing home patients by nursing care staff who spend their days working at numerous different institutions and living in such confined spaces with other individuals. Staff aides can become COVID-19 positive and infect other nursing care residents without being aware that they are sick.
This study was done in a long-term skilled nursing home in Los Angeles by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 was detected in two people who had coronavirus symptoms at the time.
Asymptomatic persons (those who have COVID-19 and may infect others but do not show symptoms) and presymptomatic people disseminate COVID-19, making it extremely deadly and infectious.
Many families may have lost loved ones during the pandemic, despite the efforts of the CDC and other health authorities to control COVID-19 in nursing homes. Families might be entitled to sue for wrongful death if a nursing home’s negligence contributed to COVID-19 fatalities and should seek the help of our experienced wrongful death attorneys.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit:
A wrongful death case may be filed whenever a family member dies due to someone else’s carelessness. However, it is even more painful when it appears that the death might have been averted by making reasonable efforts to prevent its occurrence.
Vehicle accidents and workplace accidents are common causes of wrongful death. A wrongful death case might also be filed if a person dies owing to inadequate precautions or care.
In the legal world, a wrongful death case falls under the heading of “personal harm.” A statute of limitations in every jurisdiction restricts time to pursue a nursing home coronavirus claim.
A few states have also enacted laws to prevent nursing facilities from being sued for nursing home fatalities. The guilty party may have to pay for various items in a successful lawsuit for wrongful death. These include the victim’s medical bills, their burial expenses, and their lost future wages.
An affected family may be entitled to compensation for the loss of a legacy, lost relationships or parental guidance, pain, and injury, as well as any damages associated with the circumstance and suffering. Some families have received substantial financial compensation due to the negligence of a third party, resulting in significant financial gain.
Have you lost a loved one due to the negligence of a nursing home facility? Do you wonder whether you can file a wrongful death lawsuit? Seeking the help of an expert wrongful death lawyer or a law firm is the best choice. Get in touch with a wrongful death attorney at Philadelphia Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
