Medical

COVID-19 among the leading causes of death for Floridians in 2020, data shows

ORLANDO, Fla. — The mounting death toll from COVID-19 is making the virus one of the leading causes of death in the country, and in Florida in 2020.

Between March and September, COVID-19 landed sixth on the list of causes of death in Florida.

READ: Here’s where to find the COVID-19 vaccine in your county

As 2020 draws to a close, the coronavirus will likely become one of the top three causes of death in the state, having killed more than 21,500 Floridians in just nine months.

According to the most recent report available of the leading cases of death in Florida, COVID-19 will likely rank third by the end of the year, behind heart disease and cancer.

Dr. Derek Chapman, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Virginia Commonwealth University, says it’s a surprise to see COVID-19 rank so high on a list that typically doesn’t see much movement.

“It’s been a long time since an infectious disease has been a leading cause of death in this country,” Chapman says.

READ: Orange County Strike Team to ensure businesses are following CDC guidelines for New Year’s Eve

In fact, not since 1937- with pneumonia and the flu- has an infectious disease cracked the top three causes of death in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

Dr. Chapman attributes that streak to more effective public health measures, and a better understanding of how viruses spread.

Dr. Chapman and his colleagues at VCU recently wrote a paper for the Journal of the American Medical Association ranking COVID-19 as a leading cause of death.

They estimate that about half a million more people died this year than expected, which they attribute to the coronavirus and its secondary health effects.

READ: Key dates for the next set of stimulus payments

“And that’s going to push our total number of deaths above 3 million for the first time in the history of the United States,” Dr. Chapman warns.

Chapman hopes his team’s report encourages more people to continue wearing masks and practicing proper social distancing because he says the vaccine alone won’t rid us of the virus any time soon.