Coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in 2020, CDC reports

The coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in 2020, according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the CDC said the coronavirus was the third deadliest aliment last year, behind heart disease and cancer. An estimated 375,000 deaths were attributed to the coronavirus.

“The numbers and rates of overall deaths and COVID-19 deaths were assessed by age, sex, race/ethnicity,” such as Hispanic, non-Hispanic, White, Black, Asian and beyond,” said the CDC.

“Overall deaths were highest among non-Hispanics Black persons and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons,” the CDC said, noting that the COVID-19 death rate was highest among Hispanics.”

“These data can guide public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing numbers of deaths that are directly or indirectly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and among persons most affected, including those who are older, male, or from disproportionality racial/ethnic minority groups,” said the CDC.