Covid was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. last year, trailing only heart disease and cancer

Covid was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. last year, with only heart disease and cancer killing more Covid killed more than 415,000 people in 2021 and contributed to the deaths of another 45,000 people, according to the CDC. Spencer Kimball CNBC

Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. last year, with only heart disease and cancer killing more people, according to data released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Covid killed more than 415,000 people in 2021 and contributed to the deaths of 45,000 more people, about 20% more than the first year of the pandemic, when the virus was involved in the deaths of more than 384,000 people.

The CDC data, based on death records among U.S. residents from January through December 2021, is provisional and subject to change as more information is reported.

People 85 and older had a higher death rate from Covid than any other age group, and more men died from the virus than women. The death rate was the highest for American Indians when adjusted for age and population. Hispanics, Black people and Pacific Islanders also had higher death rates from Covid than white people. Asians and multiracial individuals had the lowest death rates. ...