Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that there were 200,700 excessive deaths during the pandemic – above the confirmed 161,000 death toll from COVID-19.
In August, the United States continued to collect the largest COVID-19 death toll in the entire world, as the number this week was 161,000.
But according to a New York Times analysis of CDC data, there were in fact 200,700 excessive deaths in the country from March 15 to July 25.
The estimated 200,700 excessive deaths is 54,000 higher than the official CDC COVID-19 death toll in that period, which was 146,254.
Excessive deaths by the CDC are defined as ‘the difference between the number of deaths observed in specific time periods and the expected number of deaths in the same periods.’
Pictured: a graph shows the weekly excessive deaths recorded by the CDC between April and July
Based on CDC data analyzed by The New York Times, places like New York City, New Jersey and New York were one of the top five states that recorded above normal levels of deaths during the pandemic
| State | % above normal | Excessive Deaths | Reported COVID-19 deaths 3/15 to 7/25 | Gat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * New York City | 143 | 27,200 | 22,946 | 4,200 | |
| New Jersey | 69 | 18,000 | 15,774 | 2,200 | |
| New York (excluding NYC) | 40 | 14,200 | 9,347 | 4,900 | |
| Texas | 18 | 13,400 | 5,002 | 8,500 | |
| California | 14 | 13,000 | 8,423 | 5,000 | |
| Pennsylvania | 28 | 10,500 | 7,167 | 5,800 | |
| Illinois | 29 | 10,500 | 7,593 | 2,900 | |
| Michigan | 28 | 9,900 | 6,402 | 3,500 | |
| Florida | 13 | 9,700 | 5,773 | 4,000 | |
| Massachusetts | 42 | 8,200 | 8,419 | – | |
| Arizona | 27 | 6,100 | 3,288 | 2,800 | |
| Connecticut | 75 | 5,900 | 4,186 | 1,700 | |
| Maryland | 29 | 5,200 | 3,433 | 1,800 | |
| Ohio | 12 | 4,900 | 3,132 | 1,800 | |
| Louisiana | 32 | 4,900 | 3,508 | 1,400 | |
| Georgia | 15 | 4,400 | 3,104 | 1,300 | |
| Virginia | 16 | 3,900 | 2,074 | 1,800 | |
| Indiana | 17 | 3,700 | 2,820 | 900 | |
| South Carolina | 18 | 3,200 | 1,465 | 1,800 | |
| Mississippi | 24 | 2,700 | 1,480 | 1,200 | |
| Colorado | 18 | 2,600 | 1,793 | 800 | |
| Alabama | 13 | 2,400 | 1,456 | 1,000 | |
| North Carolina | 9 | 2,200 | 1,239 | 900 | |
| Missouri | 9 | 2,000 | 1,224 | 800 | |
| Minnesota | 12 | 1,800 | 1.6111 | 200 | |
| Tennessee | 7 | 1,800 | 953 | 800 | |
| Washington State | 8 | 1,700 | 1,552 | 100 | |
| Wisconsin | 8 | 1,500 | 900 | 600 | |
| Puerto Rico | 14 | 1,100 | 152 | 900 | |
| New Mexico | 16 | 1,100 | 607 | 400 | |
| Kentucky | 6 | 1,000 | 688 | 300 | |
| Washington DC | 50 | 900 | 578 | 400 | |
| Delaware | 31 | 800 | 927 | 400 | |
| Rhode Island | 30 | 900 | 523 | 400 | |
| Nevada | 9 | 800 | 733 | 100 | |
| Arkansas | 8 | 800 | 399 | 400 | |
| Iowa | 8 | 800 | 826 | — | |
| New Hampshire | 15 | 600 | 409 | 200 | |
| Oregon | 5 | 600 | 258 | 300 | |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 600 | 421 | 200 | |
| Utah | 8 | 500 | 278 | 200 | |
| Kansas | 5 | 400 | 332 | 100 | |
| Nebraska | 6 | 300 | 308 | 60 | |
| Vermont | 16 | 300 | 56 | 200 | |
| Idaho | 5 | 200 | 150 | 100 | |
| South Dakota | 5 | 100 | 121 | 30 | |
| North Dakota | 6 | 100 | 94 | 50 | |
| Maine | 2 | 100 | 119 | <10 | |
| West Virginia | 2 | 100 | 84 | 40 | |
| Montana | 3 | 100 | 37 | 80 | |
| Wyoming | 7 | 100 | 24 | 90 | |
| Alaska | Under Normal | <0 | 10 | —- | |
| Hawaii | Under Normal | <0 | 25 | —- |
The NYT analysis included more than just COVID-19-related deaths and included deaths from all causes during that period, per CDC report.
This makes it possible to find a window in the death toll of the United States that does not depend on the availability of COVID-19 tests in states or the accuracy of reporting in different regions.
The CDC notes that some deaths related to COVID-19 may be accidentally counted under another category.
‘Because some deaths due to COVID-19 can be attributed to other causes of death (for example, if COVID-19 was not diagnosed or not mentioned on the death certificate), tracking mortality with all causes may provide information as to an excessive number of deaths is observed, even if the mortality of COVID-19 can be substantiated, ‘the agency wrote.
Only Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and West Virginia show death rates similar to previous years
Members of the 128th Brigade Support Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard work loading boxes of food into cars at a distribution for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Pennsylvania
The process of counting COVID-19 deaths, and deaths in general during the pandemic, is also being delayed by several states and the CDC has a delay in reporting.
The CDC’s estimates are adjusted based on how past mortality data have been left behind.
But the numbers are clear, more Americans died from March 15 to July 25 this year than in previous years and the official COVID-19 death toll contributed to a large chunk of that.
This is in line with the Trump administration’s insistence that COVID-19 duct numbers are greatly exaggerated and a number of conservatives have adopted the conspiracy that the numbers were inflated for political gain.
Dr Anthony Fauci, a top coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, earlier defied that notion by noting the death toll is ‘almost certainly higher’ that is reported.
The state of New York, and specifically New York City, have topped the analysis data for having the highest number of excessive deaths during the pandemic to date. Image: Healthcare professionals advise a person outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of coronavirus
Pictured: Cars form lines at a federally supported coronavirus disease drive-through test site (COVID-19) at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, experiencing high levels of excessive deaths
Above average deaths have been reported in a number of states, including New Jersey and New York.
NYT data shows that New York City, the country’s original pandemic epicenter, experienced the most significant increase in 27,000 excessive deaths – seven times higher than normal.
Similarly, the analysis determined that various rates with deaths had increased by at least 10 percent above average level.
New Jersey recorded an estimated 18,000 excessive deaths in that four-month period, while New York State has 14,200 such deaths.
Only Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and West Virginia show death rates similar to previous years.
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