December 21, 2020

Excess Mortality in California During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic, March to August 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): public health

During the COVID-19 pandemic in California, older adults, residents who identified as Black and Latino, and those without college degrees have experienced the highest per capita excess mortality. From March 1 through August 22, 2020, an estimated 19,806 deaths in excess of those predicted by historical trends occurred in California. Excess deaths among Latino residents tripled (from 16 to 51 per million) and increased by a factor of 3.4 (from 21 to 72 per million) among people without a high school degree or GED. Across age groups, younger adults had the greatest increases in excess death, with rates more than doubling during the study period. 

Chen et al. (Dec 21, 2020). Excess Mortality in California During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic, March to August 2020. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.7578