The pandemic that transformed our world in 2020 hasn’t disappeared. While life has largely returned to normal and COVID-19 no longer dominates headlines the way it once did, the virus continues to claim lives at numbers that would have shocked us in any pre-pandemic year.
According to current data, COVID-19 remains among the leading causes of death in the United States and many other countries. The disease now ranks alongside longstanding killers like influenza, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and diabetes in terms of annual mortality. While this represents a dramatic improvement from the crisis years of 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 was one of the top three causes of death nationwide, the ongoing toll is far from negligible.
Several factors contribute to COVID-19’s persistent impact on mortality. The virus continues to evolve, with new variants emerging that can partially evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. This means that even populations with high levels of prior exposure remain vulnerable to new waves of infection. Additionally, immunity from both vaccination and infection wanes over time, leaving people increasingly susceptible if they don’t stay current with boosters.
The burden of COVID-19 mortality falls disproportionately on certain populations. Older adults, particularly those over 65, continue to face the highest risk of severe outcomes and death. People with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and compromised immune systems also remain especially vulnerable. These are often the same populations that face elevated risks from other respiratory infections, but COVID-19 adds another significant threat to their health.
Many deaths now occur among people who have been infected multiple times. While each infection does provide some level of immunity, it doesn’t guarantee protection against future severe illness, especially as new variants emerge and as time passes since the last exposure. The cumulative effect of repeated infections on the body, particularly on the cardiovascular and immune systems, may also play a role in long-term health outcomes.
The seasonality of COVID-19 has become more apparent over time. Like influenza, the virus tends to surge during winter months when people spend more time indoors and conditions favor respiratory virus transmission. These seasonal waves can strain healthcare systems and lead to spikes in mortality, even if the overall annual death toll has stabilized at a lower level than during the acute pandemic phase.
Vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing severe COVID-19 and death, yet uptake of updated boosters has been relatively low in many populations. Vaccine fatigue, misinformation, and the perception that COVID-19 is no longer a serious threat have all contributed to declining vaccination rates. This leaves many people, including those at high risk, more vulnerable than they need to be.
The integration of COVID-19 into routine healthcare presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, we now have better treatments, more experience managing the disease, and established protocols for protecting vulnerable populations. On the other hand, the normalization of COVID-19 can lead to complacency, with people less likely to take precautions or seek updated vaccinations.
Looking ahead, public health experts emphasize that COVID-19 will likely remain a cause of significant mortality for the foreseeable future. The virus has become endemic, meaning it circulates continuously in human populations rather than disappearing between outbreaks. Managing this new reality requires sustained attention to vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups, continued surveillance for new variants, and maintenance of healthcare capacity to handle seasonal surges.
The story of COVID-19 in 2026 is one of adaptation rather than victory. We’ve learned to live with the virus, but that coexistence comes at a cost measured in thousands of lives each year. Recognizing this ongoing impact is essential for making informed decisions about public health policy, personal precautions, and resource allocation to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.