With COVID-19 deaths over 200,000, you may be wondering how the pandemic stacks up against other threats to our Nation’s health.

Three quarters of the way through the year, #COVID19 is one of the top 5 causes of death in the U.S., explains UTMB’s @DrJohnProchaska

A thread

Just over 2.8 million Americans died in 2017 according to the most current detailed data on mortality from the @CDCgov.

The top 5 killers:
heart disease 647,457
cancer 599,108
accidents 169,936
chronic lower respiratory diseases 160,201
stroke 146,383 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm

So, where are we today with the new coronavirus? As of Oct. 7, 2020, the CDC reports that 210,232 have died in the U.S. from COVID-19. Of these, 672 were reported as new yesterday. Find more details here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

If the mortality data from 2017 holds true for this year, today’s #COVID19 death count would put this disease as the third leading cause of death in the United States.

This outbreak is a serious public health concern.

When teaching my students, I often remind them of the gravity of these numbers, @DrJohnProchaska says. Behind each number is a person, a story, a family, a community, each of which has suffered a loss. Preventing these losses is one of the cornerstones of public health practice

So what can we do to avoid adding to these grim statistics?

This virus spreads through the air from persons whose airways are infected to those who are not yet infected.

The virus can fly many feet in the air before landing.

Think about that speck of dust you see floating around when the sun hits it just right, only MUCH smaller. It could land on a countertop, on someone’s hand as they cover their sneeze or cough, or in someone else’s nose or throat, a perfect bullseye landing for this virus.

Until we have a #vaccine or other treatment, keeping distance between us and wearing a face covering over our noses and mouths helps keep this virus from hitting the bullseye.

Combined with handwashing, these three practices protect all of us.

Self-isolating when feeling ill or after coming into contact with someone who might have #COVID19 are also critical.

Staying home when possible and not going into crowded areas or to gatherings unnecessarily remain best practices.

#COVID19 testing and contact tracing are also critical tools we use to prevent the spread of this virus. Follow your health care provider’s advice on testing and, if contacted, please cooperate with contact tracers who are working to keep COVID from spreading further.

These practices not only protect you, but your family, friends and community as well. They protect our heroic health care workers, first responders, and front-line essential workers. They protect our Country.

Let’s continue to do our part in fighting off this virus.

/end