Why are more than 300 people in the US still dying from COVID every week?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Experts say there is low vaccine uptake and people are not accessing treatments.

Maybe because the pandemic isn't over?

Why are more than 300 people in the US still dying from COVID every week?

abcnews.go.com/Health/300-p...

— John Dupuis (@dupuisj.bsky.social) 2025-05-25T03:10:03.078Z

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/300-people-us-dying-covid-week/story?id=122068959&cid=social_twitter_abcn

More than five years after the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in the United States, hundreds of people are still dying every week.

Last month, an average of about 350 people died each week from COVID, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While high, the number of deaths is decreasing and is lower than the peak of 25,974 deaths recorded the week ending Jan. 9, 2021, as well as weekly deaths seen in previous spring months, CDC data shows.

Public health experts told ABC News that although the U.S. is in a much better place than it was a few years ago, COVID is still a threat to high-risk groups.

"The fact that we're still seeing deaths just means it's still circulating, and people are still catching it," Dr. Tony Moody, a professor in the department of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Duke University Medical Center, told ABC News.

The experts said there are a few reasons why people might still be dying from the virus, including low vaccination uptake, waning immunity and not enough people accessing treatments.

My oldest and a couple of my law partners have had COVID. Paxlovid works great

[FBaggins]

1. Because there are 350 million people in the country

Roughly double that 300 figure down from the flu each week. Almost 10,000 people die in the US each day - and they all die of something

[Silent Type]

2. On average 700 die per week from Flu.

[beaglelover]

3. The pandemic is DEFINITELY over. We have effective treatments should one get COVID.

I LOVE that life is pretty much back to normal (other than the douche canoe in the White House, of course)!

[hlthe2b]

5. For most. But, even with early remdesivir for COVID-19 pneumonia, mortality remains 50% plus at 30 days.

The pandemic is over for now. But, coronaviruses are unpredictable and as I stated below, the increased activity and variants infecting in Thailand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka (and presumedly China) are of considerable concern given the 24-25 vaccine has only limited activity against those predominating and Trump admin is stalling the production/licensure/use of new vaccines. THere is no longer a program for the poor/uninsured to receive them so we are sitting ducks if a more deadly variant emerges.

Call me "Debby Downer" if you like, but I KNOW what I am referencing.

[hlthe2b]

4. It has been almost a year since free COVID-19 vaccines were offered. The uninsured pay $200/dose

And a course of Paxlovid must be started soon after symptoms begin (5 days or less is optimal, which is nearly impossible for those without regular healthcare or insurance). The uninsured will pay $2000 for one round of treatment.

I know the above is hard for many of us to remember, but I see it all the time among those in the ER. And those most at risk are the least affluent, the most likely to be uninsured/underinsured, those with concomitant medical risks or the elderly forced to go back to work/still working and therefore encountering many, many people on a daily basis.

My question isn't why 300 people/week are dying but rather how many are undiagnosed, falsely decreasing that total? And with variants causing major outbreaks in Thailand, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka (with limited variant coverage in last year's 24/25 vaccine), it may be only a matter of time before we see major increases here too.

[Attilatheblond]

6. Those most at risk you mentioned are also likely to be those who have jobs with no benefits, no sick leave

those barely making it from one payday to the next and always 2 missed days from not having a roof over their heads.